[b][color=#ffffff][CENTER][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/1o1Anbu.png[/IMG][/CENTER][/color][/b]
[b][color=#ffffff]5:04 PM[/color][/b]

[b][color=#778a9b]"Arkham Asylum is a cancer on Gotham."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]My mother's maiden name was Arkham. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]Perhaps as a means of exorcising some degree of shame over the stigma surrounding her family, going all the way back to Amadeus Arkham's committal to his own lunatic's asylum in 1929, Martha "Marty" Arkham had her name legally changed to Martha Kane when she was twenty-one. In the past, I had liked to speculate on the reason for this. My prevailing theory was that she was trying to earn her way in a city that she was very much still devoted to - despite, I should say, all it had taken from her. And in order to do that on her own terms, she found it necessary to forge a new identity to become the spark of change that the Arkham legacy prevented her from achieving. This theory has guided me through many key decisions of my own life. An emulation, I suppose, by a son who found himself desperately clinging to a memory of who she was as the real ones began to fade with time. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]But I've been forced to confront some ugly truths ever since returning to Gotham. The Asylum, for all of the goodwill that it's intended purpose has managed to conjure up in the intervening years, has suffered a critical hit in it's ability to shield the city from the lunatics that it houses. I've tried to correct this at every point, of course. Donating hundreds of thousands towards it's restructural efforts. Personally overseeing preparations to overhaul it's security staff from afar. Diverting the time and effort of the research and development team at Wayne Enterprises towards paving over the cracks that appear with every new escape. But it's become increasingly clear that it isn't enough. I've avoided taking any real action for as long as possible, in a bid to leave the running of it's day-to-day operations in more capable hands. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]After former director Hugo Strange's descent into madness, I realized the unfortunate reality. There aren't any more capable hands willing to help. And waiting on that to change is only going to result in more deaths. More destruction and madness than the GCPD can ever hope to be capable of handling themselves. The hands-off approach was a necessity that I needed in order to cast the appearance of ambivalence. If Bruce Wayne left every part of his public empire to be handled by third parties, it would make it seem all the more plausible that he did nothing more with his time than receive speeding tickets, play golf with the other members of Gotham's elite, and bed actresses and supermodels. However, there comes a point when a false ambivalence crosses the threshold into apathy. For all that I've worked and trained for to avenge my parents' murder, apathetic was the last thing I ever needed to become. [/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"Sorry to open with a touch of the dramatic, ladies and gentlemen, but I felt it necessary to highlight the most recent headline regarding the Asylum's standing with the city. That was from the Gotham Globe's most recent column. Needless to say, I could cite many other publications that have written a spotlight piece, but their headlines are worded with considerably less... kindness."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]So beginning today, I'm course-correcting. Even though the worldwide epidemic opened the doors to the remote participation model of business becoming an accepted form of conduct, it had never occurred to me to simply address the Arkham Asylum board of directors via video conference. It was an oversight that I attribute to the work I've been doing to keep Gotham's streets safe in a more [i]direct[/i] manner, but an oversight nonetheless.[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"So I say we cut that cancer out. Now, I'm aware of my own standing within the company. Which is what I've made the mistake of seeing Arkham as in the past. A [i]company[/i]. And to my detriment, the way I saw many of you was as employees tasked with a job. Many of you whom I'm meeting for the first time today. I wasn't aware of some of your names until recently, when my assistant gave me the notes for today's conference. For that egregiousness, I sincerely apologize."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]Giving them a smile, despite their clear discomfort in my "honesty" - the reality being that I  not only know all of their names, but have routinely looked into their backgrounds every single year since they were hired in the event of preventing any unwanted surprises - I strike a few keys on my ultrasonic keyboard to open a chart to the left of the screen. It shows that despite Arkham's rate of committals and hirings, public favor has been dipping for the last couple of years. More crucially, even though I didn't think it wise to place the statistic on a graph, Arkham's number of inmates that have been certified to re-enter society has been dipping even lower.[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"That being said, I'm here now, and I'm going to remain here for the foreseeable future."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]One of the senior board members, Simon Ecks, clears his throat at that in order to speak up.[/color]

[color=#d5a6bd]"With all due respect, Mr. Wayne, I think I speak for the entire board here when I ask this. Are you planning to [i]physically[/i] be here, or is this the extent in which we can expect your participation in all future decisions pertaining to Arkham's daily business? Because while your renewed interest in the Asylum is certainly welcome, we have concerns of our own."[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Forcing a light chuckle, I pretend to be intimidated by this by adjusting my tie and slicking back my hair. The former Dr. Ecks has been a longtime proponent of having me removed from the board, and he might have succeeded in his efforts to file an injunction had it not been for the unanimous loyalty to my mother's standing as one of the board's founding members. It bothers him that I'm allowed to meddle in these affairs out of sheer nepotism, and on one hand, I understand his frustrations. But I wouldn't be here if the board had taken more swift measures to establish the security protocols that Lucius Fox had offered to provide for them - offered under my direction, no less.[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"By all means, mister..."[/color][/b]

[color=#d5a6bd]"Ecks. Simon Ecks."[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Feigning a look of realization, I apologetically nod as if I've half been paying attention.[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"Ah, yes. Mr. Ecks. By all means, you and the board have every right to express these concerns."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]Another prominent member of the board, Regina Zellerbach, is quick to usurp the conversation.[/color]

[color=#f9cb9c]"I think it'd be best to start with your own public reputation, Mr. Wayne."[/color]

[color=#d5a6bd]"I have to agree with Mrs. Zellerbach. While I've no doubt that you intended no harm to the brand, any participation in these matters on your part could be misconstrued as a mere PR opportunity based on your level of celebrity."[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"My level of celebrity?"[/color][/b][color=#ffffff], I reiterate, with a laugh. [/color][b][color=#778a9b]"Mr. Ecks, please. I think you've both overestimated how much sway my personal life has on the public's opinion of Arkham's market value. My name has appeared in the tabloids a couple of times. And yes, I've been caught in a few... [i]compromising[/i] positions. But it's a matter of public record that I'm merely a financial backer, not a businessman. I'm hardly a candidate to make the cover of Time Magazine anytime soon, so you can rest assured that this is [i]not [/i]some sort of publicity stunt."[/color][/b]

[color=#f9cb9c]"Then forgive us for being blunt. What [i]is[/i] this, then? Because as far as the rest of us are concerned, you've never had much of a reason to personally call into any board meetings for little more than to approve certain measures on a yes or no basis. As you yourself admitted, you saw Arkham as another company to micromanage in order to boost your portfolio. I think if we're going to trust you to look after the Asylum's best interest, we need to be more clear about your intentions."[/color]

[color=#ffffff]I place my hands together and lean forward.[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"Fair. Then I'll cut to the chase. Arkham needs to be taken into a new direction if we're to regain the public's trust. For too many years, the name - not [i]my[/i] name, to be clear, but the one plastered above the gates infront of the building - has been synonymous with an increased disillusionment with the country's mental healthcare. We've been given access to some of the leading professionals in their field, state of the art medicines and equipment to house the individuals these doctors and nurses have been forced to try and control, and the result has been continually proven to be ineffectual. Arkham is as much a safe haven for the criminally insane as social media is a safe haven for basic human decency."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]Some of the faces turn curious, hearing the passion in my voice begin to rise up from behind the usual easygoing tone I tend to put on in the public eye. I had hesitated to let my own thoughts bleed into the conversation, but lately, Alfred's been encouraging me to act more like a leader and less like a passive idiot who has more money than he knows what to do with. It's certainly not the rhetoric they expected from me, and it's clear that my sentiments strike a chord. But ultimately, these people need to open their eyes. If I have to bring a taste of the other side of my personality into the fold for that to be possible, so be it.[/color]

[color=#f9cb9c]"I... see. And do you have any suggestions as to what this new direction should be?"[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"As a matter of fact, I do. And it starts with a rebranding."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]To the right of my screen, a redesign of the Arkham Asylum logo appears, as provided to me by Waynetech's design department. The font is notably friendlier and less stoic, and the 'A' is prominently more streamlined with a stylistic approach - all in all it's alot trendier, is what the market research has told me. [/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"Asylums are said to bring about negative connotations. You think Asylum, and the next thing you're picturing is some old castle in the Victorian era, with men in rubber gloves hosing down a group of lobotomized degenerates. The Arkham Rehabilitation Institute, or ARI, is the first step in a long road for us to get with the times."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]There are confused expressions given. Some exchange glances that are telling. They aren't entirely sold on the idea. That's fine with me, as I had come up with this strategy to be disarming in the first place. I'm more than aware that a simple rebranding isn't going to change anything regarding the Asylum's effectiveness at housing the insane. But it is going to get the conversation started amongst them, whether they want to hear out any further ideas or attempt to vote to throw me out of the board altogether. All I needed was a foot in the door to get things started, either ---[/color]

[b][i][color=#ffffff]"We interrupt GNN Business's llive coverage of the Gotham Stock Exchange to bring you this emergency broadcast bulletin."[/color][/i][/b]

[color=#ffffff]My eyes quickly dart towards the feed on a screen to my right, where a wildly unexpected scene begins to play out within Gotham proper - looks to be trouble. Something's happening at what appears to be Gotham Central Station, already cordoned off by a fleet of GCPD and ambulances stretching a few blocks wide. Summer Gleason, one of the nightly correspondents, has her left hand against an earpiece while her right hand is clutching a microphone.[/color]

[i][color=#5edddd]"If you're just joining us, we're currently attempting to see if the attackers have sent for a list of demands, but GNN has thus far remained in the dark as to what the masked terrorists want. The incident started only ten minutes ago, when authorities say that security cameras alerted Central Station staff to a group of what can only be described as 'armored terrorists', who proceeded to open fire on a public crowd. While no casualties have been confirmed, police have thus far been unable to find an entrance that isn't blocked off, leading some to speculate..."[/color][/i]

[color=#d5a6bd]"Mr. Wayne? You were saying something about this... proposal of your's?"[/color]

[b][i][color=#778a9b]Terrorists? In Gotham?[/color][/i][/b]

[color=#ffffff]These words echo through my mind with a resoundingly thunderous call to action. Were I under the spell of police propaganda, I'd remain reserved to let Gordon's men handle it. The sun's still up - and this is all so public, anyway. There's no need to... 

I stop myself. Whatever you were about to begin telling yourself, Bruce, you [i]know[/i] it's a lie. Public or not, time of day be damned, there's no reason not to intervene. If there are no demands yet, there could be something more insidious at play than a simple hostage exchange. This is the exact type of situation I trained for. Meaning that I need to act before this escalates. Should only take me minutes to reach the city if I utilize the plane...[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"I, ah... I realize that this is quite a [i]drastic[/i] departure, superficial as it is. But I urge the board to consider my proposal for an Arkham that doesn't rely on a reputation of patient notoriety."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]Ecks stands up from his seat, clearly annoyed at the lack of any real follow-through on the issues that I began to address at the start of the conference. But that was also the intent. To get [i]them[/i] talking about these issues so that when I call in the next time, they'll have somewhat of an organized rebuttal. I just need to give them someone who [i]appears[/i] to want to do their job for them in order to inspire such action. And the less sound my ideas appear, the more they'll want to come up with better alternatives.[/color]

[color=#d5a6bd]"Mr. Wayne, you can't possibly expect us to..."[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"Sorry, Mr. Ecks, but that's as much time as I can devote to the issue today. I'll check back in a week to see what everyone's thoughts are on ARI. Personally, I'm looking forward to getting to know the Asylum on a personal level. Be sure to give me your feedback!"[/color][/b]

[color=#ea9999]"What?"[/color]
[color=#dd7e6b]"Is he serious..."[/color]
[color=#d5a6bd]"Mr. Wayne, you can't just---!"[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"Have a good evening."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffffff]With that, the feed is cut off. Leaving me to dwell in the relative silence of the Batcave's central computer terminal, where I've been stationed this entire time. A holographic background, artificial lighting, and a digital interface that alters my appearance with the use of advanced imaging A.I. - giving me a clean-shaven, Armani-suited look that seems more suitable for an appearance at a country club than a business conference - make it appear as if I'm on a private plane just exiting the skies over Costa Rica. Given that no one appeared to pick up on the artificiality of my presentation, I can consider the [i]Waynescan [/i]- as Lucius called it - a successful alternative to the usual makeup and shower routine when it comes to hiding my injuries from a previous night's work.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]But no time to dwell on that now. As soon as I set the Batcomputer on standby, I rise up from the terminal and turn to find Alfred waiting. He's already gathered my equipment for me. Giving him a solemn nod, as we both listen to the GNN broadcast continue in an effort to discern anything of use, I grab the leathery looking garb from the aging butler's hands. Without another word, he rushes forth to assume his position in my place at the terminal. Ever the eyes and ears.[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"Alfred."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffd966]"I witnessed the story unfolding on the upstairs television. I had thought to make the necessary preparations."[/color]

[color=#ffffff]From within the armory, I quickly lay everything out in the private changing station. Pre-loading the grapple, the batarangs, and smoke pellets, I load them into the belt's pouches while simultaneously beginning to shed the dishevelled, barely awakened visage of Bruce Wayne in exchange for a more comfortable set of attire. First, the graphene infused undersuit, triple-weaved through a cold-cast titanium mesh that's strong enough to hold together the armor plating - made of thick, malleable and shock-absorbent kevlar. Lucius improved the weight of it recently to be more forgiving, and the speed in which I can get suited up speaks to that.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Then the outersuit. Then the boots. The belt. The gloves. The cape.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]And finally, the cowl that slips over my face.[/color]

[b][color=#778a9b]"I'll need the plane."[/color][/b]

[color=#ffd966]"Naturally, sir. One doesn't test a mere [i]prototype[/i] with safety precautions alone. One should always need to risk imminent death in order to properly see if it'll withstand any of it's owner's future mishandling through unnecessary daredevil antics."[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The voice modulator is activated with a tingle tap to the side of my throat.[/color]

[color=#000000][b]"My thoughts exactly."[/b][/color]

[color=#ffffff]Alfred's brow furrows as I emerge, making a beeline for the plane's elevated platform that lies just beyond The Batmobile's stationary position ahead of the tunnels leading out to Miller Road. Technically speaking, if I took the car, I'd be more in my element and able to get there in as quickly an amount of time. But the need for discretion and the potential for a rooftop entry where there are none make the plane the more suitable choice for such a task.[/color]

[color=#ffd966]"I do hope you realize that was [i]sarcasm[/i], Master Bruce..."[/color]

I grunt, ascending up the metal steps.

[color=#000000][b]"I'll be careful, Alfred."[/b][/color]

[color=#ffd966]"...one can be forgiven for wondering..."[/color]

[color=#ffffff]To his dismay, I nevertheless climb into the cockpit of the pla... the Batwing, as it were, and begin switching the necessary dials. A series of lights illuminate my path as I type in coordinates for a mapping A.I. to summarize. Gives me a precious few more seconds to prepare, but sometimes that's all that's needed to stand between several lives taken and no lives taken at all. And in Gotham City, anyone that attempts to commence bloodshed will have to answer to me. These "terrorists" are about to learn that lesson the hard way.[/color]

[i][color=#00ff00]Gotham Central Station. Thirty-six miles, northeast.[/color][/i]

[color=#ffffff]Within seconds, everything begins rumbling and I grab a firm hold of the yoke. Throttle pushes me out of The Batcave and into the open skies just beyond the city. I pull back, hard, and send the boosters into overdrive. A flurry of clouds and a thick, golden smaug break through the front of the plane's nose and give me a direct view of the skyscrapers that make up Gotham's Financial District. Central Station bridges the gap between the West and East Ends, symbolically standing between those in power and those shamefully left without. In some ways, it's existence harmonizes the opposing classes to the outside world.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Which is likely the terrorists' intent. To break such a harmonization and show that no one is safe from their reach. My eyes narrow as the small, barely noticeable scene below becomes visible from beneath my position. I was sure to keep my trajectory out of sight, to prevent any curious onlookers. Usually I'd employ the EMP to turn off any recording devices, but I'm going to need the media's eyes and the police's ears if I'm going to navigate this situation properly.[/color]

[color=#000000][b]"Autopilot. Hover."[/b][/color]

[i][color=#00ff00]Command engaged.[/color][/i]

[color=#ffffff]One way or another, I'm bringing this insanity to an end. Grabbing the pull-levers from atop the pilot's seat, I brace myself and take a moment's breath. When I pull them down, the bottom hatch opens and I let go, leading directly into freefall. Reaching into the back of the utility belt, I grab the end of a Bat-line and scan my descent for a proper anchor point.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Can't be too careful. Intervening in a public crisis isn't The Batman's usual [i]modus operandi[/i]. Doing so as the sun is still setting, considerably less so.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]But today, he'll be making an exception on both accounts.[/color]

[color=#ffffff][img]https://i.imgur.com/0SRGGSC.png[/img][/color]