The Shadow Returns Home
Even at night, Gotham was a beast.
Horns. Sirens. Steam from cracked pipes.
The air tasted like metal and rain.
It felt familiar… even though I had never stepped foot here before.
Not in this life.
My mission was simple:
Steal three biotech components that Black Mask had smuggled into a "biotechnology fundraiser gala."
The components would form part of a new weapons system he wanted to mass-produce
Talia called it a test.
Ra's called it a demonstration.
I called it…
A chance to see the city of my father.
The Gala — Gotham's Brightest (and Darkest)
The fundraiser took place inside the Titan Tower Conference Hall, a gleaming silver skyscraper overlooking the river.
Hundreds of Gotham's rich walked in wearing masks, gowns, suits.
Below their feet, in locked containers disguised as medical shipments, Black Mask stored:
a micro-fusion power core
bio-accelerant nanites
and a genetic suppression device
Combined, they formed a weapon that could erase a city block.
I needed to acquire them
without a single death
without being seen
without revealing the League
And above all:
Without being recognized by the Bat-Family.
Because they were here too.
Nightwing stood at the bar, dressed as a security consultant.
Batgirl moved gracefully through the crowd in a red evening gown.
Spoiler was disguised as catering staff.
Even Signal was on the roof, scanning for threats.
Oracle monitored everything from a silent vantage point, whispering in their ears.
I moved among them invisible.
Not through gadgets.
Not through shadows.
Through skill.
The Infiltration — Child Among Wolves
To enter the gala, I borrowed the identity of a foreign ambassador's young heir.
A suit.
Polished shoes.
A small wooden mask.
Rich people don't notice children.
Perfect.
I slipped through the front doors, brushed past a billionaire, and walked straight toward the VIP access hallway.
Two guards blocked the way.
"Restricted area," one said.
I pretended to lose balance—
and bumped into him.
My fingers tapped three precise points on his arm.
He froze, muscles locking up.
He thought his limb went numb.
A medical issue.
Not an attack.
The other guard rushed to help, opening the door.
I slid inside as they panicked.
The Crates — Damian Moves Like a Ghost
Inside the restricted zone, I found the disguised containers.
Huge metal crates.
Corporate logos.
Sealed with biometric locks.
The moment I touched one—
Transparent World activated.
I saw:
the wiring inside the crate
the pressure sensors
the guard patrolling outside
and the heartbeat of a Bat-Family
member approaching
I worked quickly.
Slice.
Breathe.
Lift.
Store inside my pocket dimension.
Gone.
Second crate, gone.
Third crate—
A voice echoed outside.
Nightwing.
I swear I heard something. Anyone else picking up movement?"
Batgirl answered, "Nothing on thermal. Probably rats."
Oracle said, "No rats in this building. Keep looking."
They were closing in.
Time to leave a message.
I pulled out a flat titanium plate from the crate packaging.
I carved a familiar shape:
A bat with sun-streaked edges.