Gotham City, 1 am. The Batman, Gotham's guardian, is patrolling an inner city projects. Station Park is its name. The police fear it, the gangs own it, and everyone else either doesn't know or care about what goes on here. Gun fire erupts! Four teens run from the nearby Basketball court where they were playing a game. Twelve year old Jamal Jenkins doesn't run. He fearlessly or perhaps foolishly watches the scene unfold. The Batman takes a moment to admire the young mans naive bravery. Then he springs into action. He exits the sleek black roadster, affectionately known as the Batmobile, reaches for his his grapple gun and fires into the nights sky. Jamal stands in awe as the grapple hoists his 6ft2 frame onto the rooftop where the gunfire serenades the neighborhood with an all too familiar tune, violence. Batman goes to work. A punch here, a kick there, and the rest scatter. Batman, seeing the ring leader, corners him. The man, 5ft8, mid 30's with baggy jeans a hooded sweatshirt and boots stares up him defiantly. Batman shouts who do you work for? Give me a name. He inches forward. Suddenly Batman hears a screeching, lookout! Which comes from Jamal. The Batman is struck from behind by a new assailant. As he stammered on hands and knees on the broken glass filled and beer stained rooftop floor, a crowbar is raised above his head. As the young heartless attacker prepares the final blow, he's hit with .....a basketball. The attacker turns to see Jamal on the roof, winded from running, but prepared to fight for his community, for the Bat. This moment is all Batman needs. He quickly dispatched said attacker with a move so quick Jamal could barely see it. Once again Batman takes note of the fact that Jamal is cool under pressure. But no Thank yous are given. He merely dives off the roof using his cape as a parachute. When Jamal reaches the street, the batmoblie is still parked and Batman is inside with the rooftop open. Jamal walks up and says with a grin, nice moves. How did you learn to fight like that? In my line of work, you pick things up along the way batman says. Your a tough kid. Handled yourself well. Better than any of these kids around here. Hey... it's like you said, you pick up things along the way. What's your name? Jamal. Where are your parents? Mom's at work, dad doesn't live around here. We'll you'd better get back home. I've got shoot outs all over this area and I think there just a distraction for something bigger. So I'd rather you be somewhere safe. Or I could help you solve this thing, says Jamal. I know this area, plus I'd be safe with you. Batman pauses.... Get in.

To Be Continued.