Batman, The Rise of the Dark Knight

Foreword: This is the story of Batman, one of DC's greatest heroes. It happened before the Justice League was established and before Superman officially debuted. Because of the bias towards the new 52, ​​each hero and villain has an origin, which is more real, and the master was already around 33 years old when he formed the Justice League. But the master here is a story shortly after he became Batman. The master here is younger, and he is not as sophisticated as the later period. For him, the identity of Batman is still a burden or a cover for another identity. Once I wrote a side story, the book friends who have read it will give some opinions.

Prologue: Rainy Night

Night, Gotham, Wayne Manor. The old housekeeper, Alfred, was sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, and there was a strong wind, lightning and thunder, and the wind and rain outside. The pea-sized raindrops hit the window and made a crackling sound, bringing a different sense of rhythm to this restless night. In front of the radio, Gotham News is playing.

[Today is the 30th day that Batman disappeared in Gotham City. Since Batman brought the Joker and former prosecutor Harvey Dent, and now the two-faced man to justice in the factory explosion, we will not No word on the Dark Knight has been received either. With the disappearance of the dark knight, the crime rate in Gotham City, which had dropped to a bottom line, began to gradually increase. Can we understand that this vigilante who has always been on the most wanted list of Gotham Police Department? A police officer is an important factor in maintaining order in Gotham. Does his disappearance now mean that Gotham cannot be saved? Can the incompetent police and government officials give us a reasonable explanation? 】

Alfred turned off the radio, glanced at the room in the attic, took an album from the bookshelf on the side, sat in front of the window and flipped through it. The album was not thick, but Alfred flipped slowly because The above is one of the few in his memory, belonging to the happiest time of the former young master, the current master Bruce Wayne.

In the album, there are group photos of Bruce as a child with his late parents Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne, the way he was crying when he was born, the joy of going out with his parents to catch butterflies, and the joy of going out with his parents to catch butterflies. There are a few pictures of Bruce playing with a little girl, and it's one of the few. Looking at these photos that only existed in the past, Alfred was a little dazed, and he couldn't tell which era he was in.

"It's another rainy day, Mr. Thomas." Looking at the pouring rain outside the window, the old butler let out a sigh and looked at the portraits hanging on the wall.

It was five-year-old Bruce, wearing a dress and the only portrait of his parents. Because it was the first time that he was painted with his parents, the young Bruce seemed a little nervous and anxious. Moving is still a difficult thing for a child to do, so Bruce didn't do much well, but this is the only portrait of him and his parents. At that time, neither Alfred nor Bruce thought that the accident would happen so quickly, so suddenly, this family of three that should have been envied by many people was left with only a five-year-old child and an old housekeeper to support it. on.

Back in 1974, Alfred had just retired from the British special forces. As an elite of the special forces, Alfred had completed many tasks. Infiltrated and assassinated in the enemy's hinterland, and also solved some supernatural incidents. It can be said that as an excellent soldier, with this resume, he can rise to the sky, and he will be a rising star in both the military and political circles.

But he didn't. He gave up all the honor and power at his fingertips, retreated bravely, and came to another country to start a new life. He was tired of the days of taking a gun and taking someone's life, even if the person was the worst. When he first came to Gotham, his skills attracted many local gangs, businesses, and nightclubs. They wanted Alfred to be their bodyguard, but Alfred refused. In the end, he chose Apply for the position of Steward of the Wayne Family, the most influential family in Gotham City.

No one would have imagined that this executioner, who once had bloody hands on the battlefield, with a strong British accent, and looked like a gentleman, would choose a job serving people, but at that time the only owner of the Wayne family, Thomas, was in charge of the interview. . Wayne. After seeing Alfred, he only asked one question: "Why did you choose to come to me." With the ability of the Wayne family, it is easy to find out the information of each applicant, and Alfred also I have no intention of falsifying my resume.

Because in his opinion, that bloody job is also a part of his life, and he has no reason to reject it.

"I just want to know if someone like me has a second chance to start." Seeing Thomas looking directly into his eyes, Alfred replied neither humble nor arrogant.

"Then, congratulations, Alfred, you've been hired." Thomas smiled and extended his hand to welcome Alfred. That year, he was 27, and Thomas Wayne was 27.

In the following days, Alfred began to be the steward of the Wayne family and was in charge of everything in Wayne Manor. Obviously not in it. At the beginning, Alfred was very embarrassed in management. He was used to using everything on hand as a weapon. It was difficult to put these things on hand where they should be used as tools.

As his master, Thomas Wayne did not blame him, but taught him how to manage. This young master who should enjoy the greatest power in Gotham City taught him a lot like his best friend, which made him Alfred was puzzled. Because his owner put the company aside most of the time, he went to the slum to open a private clinic to provide free treatment for those who could not pay the high fees, and even set aside a large amount of money from the company. The money was used for road planning and construction in Gotham City.

"Why did you do this, Mr. Thomas, you should be the one at the top." In his spare time, Alfred once asked Thomas this question.

The young Thomas, who was very wealthy at a young age, just showed a simple and honest smile to Alfred. Looking at the new road being built by the construction team contracted by Wayne Enterprises outside, he said with emotion: "I'm a doctor, Alfred, and as a doctor, all I can do is heal, turn bad things into good things, right now. I'm just doing what a doctor is supposed to do."

Thomas' words made Alfred especially fond of his memory, and he was full of respect for his master who was also a teacher and friend. And after ten years of such a time, Alfred also stayed at Wayne Manor for ten years. In ten years, he was transformed from the former special forces king into a competent old housekeeper. He arranged everything in Wayne Manor in a tidy manner. In the past ten years, he saw Thomas found true love with his own eyes. Martha, a kind girl, also served as the best man at Thomas's wedding.

Finally, he saw with his own eyes the heir of the Wayne family, Bruce Wayne, fell to the ground. The loud cry made him feel that his life had become brighter, and he was also invited by Thomas to become Bruce Wayne's godfather. As an unmarried man, being the godfather of a child was a light in life for Alfred.

In the later years, Alfred did his best to take care of little Bruce. When Thomas and Martha were free clinics for the poor in Gotham, Alfred had to learn how to change little Bruce's diaper and master the bottle. The temperature during breastfeeding, Alfred can say with a guarantee that the five years of taking care of little Bruce are definitely the happiest five years in his life, if there is no such thing.

It was a rainy night, just as heavy as it is now. Alfred, who had been busy all day, took the written resignation letter and was about to go to sleep. The fifteen years at Wayne Manor had given him a lot, and Thomas also knew He shouldn't keep Alfred tied up like this, he needs a new life, so he asks Alfred to resign, and Alfred is ready to do the same.

"Ding bell!" Just as Alfred was about to turn off the lights to sleep, the phone at the desk rang rapidly, an unknown number, but Alfred had a bad premonition at this moment, this call would not be too much Good news for him, but he took it anyway.

"Yes, this is Alfred." Connected to the phone, Alfred felt that he was ready, but the news from the other end of the phone caught him by surprise.

"Mr. Alfred, we are the Gotham Police Department. Just at ten o'clock tonight, Thomas Wayne and his wife were shot and killed. Only one child survived. You need to come over."

The phone slipped from his hand, and the quaint phone hit Alfred's instep, but he didn't even notice it, only the words echoed in his mind, and the Thomas and his wife were shot. He never thought that this kind-hearted couple would end up like this. They were doing good deeds all the time, but they were shot and killed in the alley just like that, just for a pearl necklace! Alfred's brain stopped thinking, and he fell weakly to the ground, knocking down a row of books.

"Yes, I have to go to the police station! I have to go to the police station quickly!" Alfred reacted to the blow, and hurriedly took off the windbreaker from the hanger, took the umbrella, and Alfred hurriedly ran out of Wayne Manor, drive to the police station.

It took only fifteen minutes for Alfred to arrive at the crime scene. The couple who used to treat him like family just lay there, white cloth covering them, and broken pearl necklaces scattered all over the floor. And his godson, Bruce Wayne, was on the ground, picking up one by one regardless of the muddy rain. The rain hit his face, and his expression was so numb.

And a police detective held an umbrella over his head and did not stop him, because he knew that this was the little boy's last insistence. Alfred didn't dare to look at the faces of the Thomas and his wife, so he stepped forward, took the detective's umbrella, and put a trench coat on little Bruce.

"Master Bruce, I'm here." Alfred tried his best to keep his tone soft and gentle, and said beside little Bruce.

"Alfred?" Little Bruce Wayne turned around stiffly, looked at his godfather, and hugged him without saying a word. What he needed at this moment was not comfort, but a strong shoulder for him to lean on.

Alfred knew, so he didn't say a word, no matter how sad his heart was at this time, he had to stay strong in front of little Bruce. The detective on the side didn't say anything. After passing the umbrella to Alfred, he began to ask: "Mr. Alfred Pennyworth?"

"Yes, it's me."

"My name is Jim Gordon, and I'm sorry this happened, but we'll find out."

"I hope so." After living in Gotham for so long, Alfred already knew the city, and after saying something politely, he left with little Bruce.

Driving back to Wayne Manor, along the way, little Bruce wrapped the windbreaker, looked out the window, and said nothing. Back at the manor, the servants had already slept, and the Wayne Manor, which should have been full of life, was now like a ghost town, quiet, unfamiliar and frightening.

Taking little Bruce back to his room, the extremely nervous little Bruce held the pearl necklace he picked up and strung it in his hand, and lay on the bed without saying a word. With a sigh, Alfred was about to turn off the lights and close the door to let little Bruce get a good night's sleep.

"Alfred?"

"Yes, Master Bruce."

"Can you leave the lights off? I'm scared."

"Of course, Mr. Bruce." Alfred didn't turn off the light or leave, but sat down in a chair and stayed beside little Bruce, watching him fall asleep, and then for those who still had nightmares even after falling asleep. He covered the quilt.

Alfred knew that from the moment he sat down next to little Bruce, there was no chance of handing out that resignation letter, and in fact, he didn't need to hand it out. After that, Alfred became the life-long steward of the Wayne family. He stayed in the Wayne family for ten years and twenty years until the end of his life. He also watched the little Bruce in his memory leave the Wayne Manor and once again What came back was a young man with anger in his eyes, a dark knight belonging to Gotham.

Closing the album, Alfred looked up at the picture hanging on the wall. Thomas and Martha in the portrait were still looking at him like they always did. "I'm sorry, Mr. Thomas." After whispering, Alfred got up, took the prepared dinner, and walked quietly into the attic.

.m.