DC: A Cop in Gotham

Chapter 40: Batman's plan

————————————————————

As Gotham's protector, Batman has faced these choices countless times. Should he save ten people at the cost of sacrificing one? Should he protect a stranger and risk losing someone dear to him?

A child might naively claim, "I want to save everyone," but an adult understands the painful reality—having the power to choose is a heavy burden.

Batman, with his intellect and strategic mind, has saved as many as possible, time and time again. Yet, he cannot save everyone every single time. That is why he warns every Robin: "Don't believe you can always save everyone—that is something only a god can do."

And now, with Trigon's arrival, one thing has become certain—even gods cannot do it.

Nabu, the Lord of Order, the deity residing within the Helmet of Fate, embodies unwavering order. He upholds balance with absolute dedication, maintaining his sanity and logic without exception.

"We must stop Trigon from obtaining the remaining Primordial Forces. If he assimilates enough, the gates of the multiverse will open for him. He will be able to descend in his true form. By then, not just Earth—the entire universe—will fall."

Nabu's voice carried cold reasoning, the weight of cosmic destruction resting in his words. But despite his warning, Superman and Wonder Woman stood firmly in his way.

"Thirty million lives… against the fate of the entire universe."

Superman's expression turned deathly pale, his usually resolute gaze clouded with inner turmoil. He, the god among men, felt powerless for the first time.

Within him, divinity and humanity clashed violently. No matter which side won, the outcome would never be a true victory for Superman.

Zatanna, desperate to resist her father's overwhelming logic, wielded ironic magic, her voice carrying an edge of defiance.

"There has to be another way. You always told me, Father—magic is a force that creates miracles. We just need to separate Trigon from the Primordial Force!"

"No, Zatanna. You are too naïve," Doctor Fate countered firmly. "We do not have time to prepare for such a feat. Another Existence Spirit—the one representing the Endless Ocean—is near. If Trigon absorbs its power, even I will no longer be able to stop him."

Doctor Fate, a being at the pinnacle of magical power, was far beyond the reach of Zatanna's irony magic. With a simple wave of his hand, he teleported Superman into outer space, effortlessly removing him from the battlefield.

With Superman gone, the only one left to stand in his way was Wonder Woman.

"Daughter of Olympus," Doctor Fate's voice was firm as he conjured a golden magic circle, blocking her incoming God-Killer Sword with ease. "Do you believe the gods will recognize your decision?"

"Using the weak as sacrifices to protect oneself is an act of cowards! And there are no cowards among the Amazons!"

With unwavering determination, Wonder Woman threw a punch, one that could rival Superman's strength. But the instant it collided with Fate's barrier, it did not even cause a ripple.

Diana's eyes widened in shock. As she watched, her sacred artifacts began disappearing one by one, drawn back to their divine creators. The Olympian Gods were revoking their gifts. The divine power once bestowed upon her was being stripped away.

The gods of Olympus had made their choice.

Diana plummeted from the sky.

But before she could hit the ground, a black-cloaked figure swooped in—the Batclaw securing her just in time. Batman pulled her into his grasp, guiding her safely into the Batmobile.

Diana, now powerless, could only smirk bitterly. Her body had never felt weaker, but her fighting spirit had never burned stronger.

"Oh, what a bunch of cowards," she scoffed.

The Big Seven of the Justice League had been reduced to almost nothing.

Green Lantern Hal Jordan was off-world.

The Flash Barry Allen was missing.

Wonder Woman Diana had been stripped of her divinity and reduced to a mere mortal.

Superman Clark Kent had been banished to outer space.

Three members of the Justice League are left in the battlefield.

One of them was Aquaman, King Arthur of Atlantis. Though often perceived as someone who merely "rides the waves," he was far from idle. With his immense control over the ocean, he summoned massive tidal waves to strike the demonized Groudon. These waves did not deal any significant damage, but they were enough to slow the monstrous entity's advance. The longer he could hold Groudon back, the more time the others would have to execute a countermeasure.

Another absent member was Cyborg, Victor Stone. He was not engaged in direct combat, yet his role was just as crucial. Every ounce of his computing power was dedicated to keeping the Boom Tube active, tirelessly working to transfer as many Gotham citizens as possible to safer locations in other cities. Without his efforts, the evacuation would have already turned into an unimaginable catastrophe.

And then, there was Batman—the only one without superpowers. He stood at a crossroads, appearing as if he had done nothing at all. But in reality, Bruce Wayne's mind was operating at a terrifying speed, calculating every possible outcome.

Behind him, Wayne Enterprises was running at maximum capacity. All available resources were being poured into the underground shelters, ensuring that as many civilians as possible could be evacuated. The entire city was on the verge of collapse, but Batman was still searching for a solution—one that wouldn't involve sacrificing Gotham.

He needed a win-win strategy.

His communicator buzzed. "Aquaman, there's no need to keep holding back Groudon. We've failed to stop Doctor Fate," Batman stated grimly. "I need to confirm something with you."

Aquaman, still manipulating the waves, responded, "What else can I do?"

Batman's voice was unwavering. "Proceed with the Atlantis Battle Plan."

There was a brief silence. Then, realization struck Arthur. "Wait… you're planning to sink Gotham?"

"To be precise," Batman clarified, "we'll sink 68% of Gotham. I've run the calculations. If Orm's two bombs are detonated at these precise locations, we can sever the connection between the three underground shelters and Port Adam."

Aquaman clenched his jaw. He understood exactly what Batman was proposing. If they sunk a significant portion of Gotham into the ocean, they could create a physical barrier that would prevent Trigon from gaining control over the Endless Ocean's spirit force. It was the only feasible way to cut off the demon's path to absolute power.

Batman continued, his tone deadly serious. "You know what this means, Arthur. Once we flood Gotham, there's no turning back. Are you in?"

Aquaman knew that Batman—the man who loved Gotham more than anyone else—would not suggest such a plan unless there was no other option.

"…Of course, I can do it," Arthur finally replied. "But we have to act fast. If the blue sea's spirit falls into Trigon's hands, even I won't be able to control the ocean anymore."

"I'll handle the bombs," Batman assured him. "You start preparing for the execution of the Atlantis Plan."

With that, Batman turned, his mind already moving on to the next step. He placed Wonder Woman in the Batmobile, securing her for safety. Just as he was about to leave, Diana's voice stopped him.

"Bruce."

Unlike before, she didn't call him Batman. She called him by his real name.

"The connection between the Earth and the spirit realm isn't just a physical one," Diana said, her voice laced with concern. "Even if you sink Gotham, there's no guarantee it will save all thirty million people.

"What you're proposing—it's not just a tactical decision. It's a destruction of Gotham's very identity."

Her words were filled with sorrow. "Bruce, I know you. You love this city more than anyone I've ever met. I don't want to see you be the one to destroy it."

For a moment, Batman remained silent. Then, he finally spoke, his voice resolute.

"Diana… you're right."

His grip on the Batmobile's door tightened.

"Bruce Wayne loves Gotham."

His cape billowed as he turned away.

"But Batman?" His voice was colder now. "Batman hates this city.

"And I've wanted to destroy her for a long time."

Meanwhile, Dean stood amidst the chaos, watching as demonized Groudon and Doctor Fate clashed. The force of their battle was so intense that falling debris nearly struck his head.

He barely had time to process the destruction when his communicator crackled.

"Dean."

The voice belonged to Batman.

Dean turned, feeling a weight settle over him as Batman's piercing gaze met his.

"Can you still get in touch with Poison Ivy?"

Batman's cape wrapped around his body, a subtle sign that even he was feeling the pressure. The explosives needed to be planted, but after several earthquakes had severed communications, Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne had gone radio silent. Even the Watchtower couldn't reach them.

Right now, Batman had no choice but to rely on Poison Ivy.

Dean didn't hesitate. He lifted his wrist, pressed the Omnitrix, and transformed—his body morphing into a form covered in twisting vines and foliage.

The Wild Ivy had emerged.

With a deep, guttural growl, he reached out to the surrounding greenery, his connection to plant life stronger than ever.

"The Wild Ivy can communicate with plants," Dean explained. "I'll ask them if they've seen Poison Ivy."

He closed his glowing green eyes and listened.

A sultry and amused voice drifted through the mental connection between Wild Ivy and Poison Ivy.

"You actually reached out to me first? My, my… I must say, I love this feeling. Let me guess—did you turn into that wild and handsome vine monster again?"

Dean, still in his Wild Ivy form, ignored her flirtatious tone. There was no time for games.

"I'm in a hurry," he said bluntly. "Help me contact Nightwing and Robin."

Behind him, Batman listened in silence. His presence was imposing, his cape draped over his body as if shielding himself from the weight of the decision he had made.

Poison Ivy, however, was unbothered by his intensity. She smirked, brushing her fingers along a blooming flower as she strolled across a cracked and broken Gotham street. The devastation around her didn't seem to affect her—it was as if the city's suffering was irrelevant compared to her own personal ambitions.

"You're always so impatient," she mused, then addressed Batman directly. "And you—what is it that you need from my dear little plant network?"

Batman's voice was curt and to the point. "Tell them to reinstall the bombs. New locations. These two coordinates."

He transmitted the data immediately.

Ivy examined the information, then let out a low chuckle. "Oh, now this wasn't part of the original deal, was it?"

Her emerald-green eyes gleamed with mischief. She took slow, deliberate steps, her heels clicking against the ground as vines trailed behind her, curling and shifting as if alive.

Batman didn't hesitate. "What do you want?" His voice was devoid of emotion, yet every syllable carried absolute authority.

Poison Ivy smiled, relishing the moment. "Oh, darling, the possibilities are endless. But let's start with this: I want Gotham to be a kingdom of plants."

Her voice was velvety smooth, but the meaning behind her words was dangerous. "I know you can't agree to that, of course. It's far too extreme for someone like you. And men," she sighed dramatically, "should really stop making promises they can't keep. It's just so… disappointing."

Her expression shifted into something sly, almost playful. "But… I'll still help you. Consider this a favor you now owe me."

Then, as if sealing the deal, she added one final demand: "And from now on, Batman… I want you to call me Ivy. Not 'Poison Ivy.' Just Ivy."

With that, she severed the connection.

The moment Ivy confirmed the message was delivered, Batman moved without hesitation. Every second counted.

Now that the bombs were secured, he couldn't afford to slow down.

He immediately turned his attention back to executing the Atlantis plan, mapping out the final steps needed to sever Gotham's connection to the rest of the world. Yet, just as he was about to leave, Dean—now back in his normal form—stepped in front of him.

"Batman."

Bruce stopped. His sharp, calculating gaze fell on the younger hero.

Dean clenched his fists. He had been standing in the middle of a war zone, watching demonized Groudon and Doctor Fate tear through everything in their path. The battle was so fierce that even the smallest shockwaves could level buildings, and the falling debris had nearly crushed him multiple times.

Yet, compared to those monstrous entities, he felt… powerless.

He hated that feeling.

"I…" Dean struggled to find the right words.

Batman didn't move, didn't speak. But his eyes—hidden beneath the cowl—studied Dean, analyzing his body language, his hesitation, his doubt.

Dean gritted his teeth. "Is there anything I can do?"

He knew Batman well enough to understand that Bruce never wasted time on empty gestures. If there was no real use for him in this situation, Batman would say so without hesitation.

But instead of dismissing him, Batman actually hesitated.

Just for a moment.

Then, his gaze flickered toward the Batmobile, where Wonder Woman lay unconscious, recovering from her sudden loss of divine power.

"Wonder Woman has lost her strength," Batman finally said. "She needs protection. Stay with her."

Dean's eyes widened slightly. "You want me to guard Wonder Woman?"

Batman didn't elaborate. He simply turned, firing his grappling hook and vanishing into the collapsing skyline.

The whirlwind of chaos continued to unfold around Dean, but his mind remained locked on Batman's words.

"…With the Batmobile here, does he even need me?" Dean muttered under his breath.

He wasn't naïve. The Batmobile was practically a fortress on wheels. It had defense systems, automated weapons, and advanced AI—all of which meant that Wonder Woman would be perfectly safe without his help.

So why had Batman asked him to stay?

That's when it hit him.

He's comforting me.

It was such a rare thing. Batman, offering reassurance? It was almost unbelievable.

Dean clenched his fists again, staring at the devastation around him.

He knew the truth.

Like the civilians fleeing through the Boom Tubes… like the Atlanteans preparing their counterattack… like the rest of the Justice League fighting on the frontlines…

Dean knew that, at this moment, he was powerless. Yes, he had fought. Yes, he had survived battles against second-tier villains. But this?

This was different.

Demonized Groudon was on an entirely different level. Doctor Fate—even with his internal conflict—was still far beyond anything Dean could handle.

If Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were struggling, then what chance did he have?

He exhaled sharply.

And yet…

He refused to back down.

Something deep inside him kept pushing forward. A voice—faint, but persistent—refused to let him accept defeat.

Because despite everything…

There had to be something he could do. Even if he was just standing here, watching the battle unfold. Even if he was just a small piece in a much larger war. There had to be a way to turn this situation around.

He had a golden finger. But the battle wasn't over yet. And until it was—

The points wouldn't be settled.

Right now, Dean wasn't even qualified to place his bet.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

If you like the story please support me by giving powerstones, comments and reviews. Your support will be very much appreciated!