Combat log. Final entry.
Should I fail, let this be a record for those who come after me.
Two nights ago...
a madman unleashed a plague on Gotham...
turning the infected into what I can only describe as zombies.
Mindless drones at his command.
I'd say it's a nightmare...
but it can't be, because I haven't slept in days.
The pieces are now in place.
I have one chance to save the city.
No!
Ugh!
Hard to believe this all started 48 hours ago.
"I am proud to accept this award..."
on behalf of all who worked to ensure that Gotham...
"will once again stand proud as a shining beacon to a brighter future."
What do you think, Dick?
Sure, you could give that speech.
Or to save time, I could fly over in the Batwing...
and drop knockout gas on the crowd.
I, for one, hung on every word.
Still, I'll see to it that pillows and blankets are available...
for those who may require them.
Don't worry, sir, we still have two more days to work on the speech...
before Gotham honors the good works of Bruce Wayne.
And speaking of good works...
it seems the city requires some from the Batman.
Dr. Hugo Strange is requesting to see you.
He won't say why.
I doubt it's to thank me for the new accommodations.
Be careful what you say in front of him, Robin.
Strange may be a madman, but he's also a brilliant psychiatrist.
If he finds an opening, he'll mess with your head.
I don't usually make house calls, doctor.
What do you want?
Thank you for coming, Batman.
And what I want is your help with an experiment I'm conducting.
You see, I'm going to release a toxic agent into Gotham's air.
It's odorless, invisible, and extremely fast acting.
It will twist the body and weaken the mind...
turning those infected into monstrous living drones...
zombies answerable only to me.
Each victim, in turn, will become a carrier...
infecting others.
Sadly, if the antidote isn't administered within 48 hours of infection...
the condition becomes irreversible.
If the toxin's being released everywhere, why won't you be affected, Strange?
I've already taken the antidote.
Which I'm sure could be very useful to you.
Oops.
Ah, that would mean the toxin is being dispersed throughout Gotham...
as we speak.
Robin, filter on.
And now that you're safe from the toxin...
perhaps we'll watch Gotham go down together?
Let the games begin.
Get them.
This isn't over, Strange.
You're right, Batman. It's just beginning.
Collecting air sample.
How did Strange pull it off?
With clinical precision. I wanna know why.
Sir?
Hugo Strange has released a toxic agent into the city's air.
Stay in the cave. The filter system should keep you safe.
And notify Barbara. We'll need backup.
Straightaway, sir.
Analysis complete.
The chemical analysis shows nothing weird.
The air is safe to breathe.
The toxin must have dispersed quickly after doing its damage.
But the drones are carriers.
Commissioner?
No.
Orders... Arkham... Batman.
Batgirl.
I'll totally deny I said this, but having you here doesn't completely...
Stink.
I know. We'll get them back, Dick.
I promise.
Hair?
Whatever toxin Strange used, if it's in the victims' tissues...
we can identify it from this.
You help Alfred research...
Alfred?
Sick.
Rest easy, old friend.
How'd he get infected down here?
I don't know. But I intend to find out.
Combat log.
I've checked against every known infectious agent and toxic compound.
No match.
There has to be a variable we're not seeing.
No.
You help.
Stop it! Stop it!
Dick, I need you to focus.
It's not fair. We're all alone.
Alfred, Batgirl... The whole city's infected.
And we don't even know why.
But there's one man who does.
Tell me, Batman, what do you see?
That you're still crazy about me, Strange. Now, how do I save everyone?
And rob myself of the chance to peer behind the mask...
at the moment of the Batman's greatest defeat?
You wanna see behind the mask? Give me the antidote, and I'll remove it.
Of course. You first.
The truth is, you saw me spill my last sample.
Sample? Then there's more antidote.
Where is it, Strange?
It's true.
I wanted a small quantity of it stashed away for my experiments.
Sadly, last week an orderly found it.
I believe it is in police custody now. Feel free to borrow it.
Of course, with all those zombies running around...
I don't think I'd feel comfortable going into that neighborhood alone, hmm?
- Robin. - We're finished here, Batman.
Guards. There is a bat in my belfry.
Combat log, second night.
Robin's gone. I'm alone.
And I have less than a day...
to distribute Strange's antidote to the entire city.
I'm being tracked by the Batwave transponder.
Not for long.
Priority one, Batwave override. Power down.
Batman, stop you.
Poison you.
Stop you.
Poison you.
Destroy.
Priority one, Batwave override. Autopilot engage.
Batgirl, Robin...
not sure you can understand me, but this will help you.
Alfred's cure will have to wait.
With Batgirl and Robin infected...
returning to the mansion and the cave is too risky.
Fortunately, I have other resources.
A home away from home.
Built in case Bruce Wayne and the Batman ever needed to go off the grid.
Only 17 hours left.
Strange's antidote is concentrated.
To get it to work over a large area, the antidote must be vaporized.
Thermo-charges.
A lot of them, wired to pick up the Batwave signal.
Everything is ready.
"Bruce Wayne, Gotham's white knight." We'll see.
All that's left is to transmit the signal.
For that, I'll need to get to higher ground.
I have one chance to save the city.
No!
Grab. Hold.
Hurt you.
Mess ahead.
Strange maybe a madman...
but he's also a brilliant psychiatrist.
He'll mess with your head.
Robin and I were hit with Strange's antidote.
Moments later, we were attacked.
The air was safe to breathe.
The chemical analysis shows nothing weird.
There was no trace of toxin in Gordon's hair.
Strange virtually sent me to the police station...
as if he wanted me to get the antidote.
But why?
What if...? What if this isn't the antidote?
What if this is the toxin?
Arkham. Batman.
If this is a mistake, it's my last.
No more mess ahead.
You okay?
That depends.
Were you a zombie 10 seconds ago?
You were under Strange's influence...
the moment he spilled that vial and infected us.
That's why he was moved upstairs to maximum security.
Then there were no traces of the toxin in anything we tested...
because there was no toxin there.
And when I captured Robin...
doctors were able to take a sample of the real toxin from his tissues...
and quickly synthesize an antidote.
Two more seconds...
and you would have delivered Strange's real toxin to the crowd.
For future reference, there are easier ways to duck out of giving a speech.
I was this close to hurting all the people I try to protect, Alfred.
What if I'm not as lucky next time?
If you'll forgive my saying so, luck had nothing to do with it.
Even under a madman's influence and believing himself to be alone...
the Batman fought his way to the truth.
That's who he is. It's who you are.
And now Gotham's very own white knight...
Mr. Bruce Wayne.