"I want you to remember, McGinnis...in all the years to come....in your most private moments...I want you to remember my hand at your throat....I want you to remember the man who beat you..."

(homage cover based on the cover to Amazing Spider-Man 316 by Todd McFarlane)

Puffing and panting in exasperated terror, Shriek ran down the nearest alleyway. He was told that the streets were no longer even an option. He was told the rumors of "Batman going crazy and becoming lethal", but he didn't listen. Now, Shriek has become hunted. Damian Ah Ghu, now donning the guise of the Batman, has made New Gotham into his playground, living by a funhouse mirror code of his father, Bruce Wayne. However, as the once Azrael holds Shriek by his ankle, reading to send him crashing to the ground below, an old face has arrived to stop him once and for all. A Batrang dismantles on of his gauntlets, giving Shriek time to escape.

Now, it is only the two of them.

"You let the scum get away."

"It's over, Damian. This has gone on long enough."

"I have to admit, McGinnis. I am surprised to see you here. Back in costume. I thought my noble gift of allowing you to live would allow you to see that this is what's best. For Gotham. For the Batman legacy."

"I am the Batman legacy, Damian. Not you."

"You? You're nothing but an farce. A mockery. A poser."

"Yeah? Then I hope you don't mind losing to a farce."

With that, the second round of the battle between Terry McGinnis and Damian Al Ghul commenced. However, after all that has happened between revealing his identity to Dana, to seeing Robin and Batgirl branch out into heroes all their own, Terry found himself battling with a renewed sense of purpose. Damien was right about one thing: the legacy of Batman was special, and there was no way Terry was going to allow a madman like Damian to have the honor of donning the cowl.

Eventually, the battle across Gotham leads the two to a New Gotham junk yard, terry sending Damian crashing back first into the garbage. However, the armor and technology of Azrael was beginning to take it's toll. Scraps and pieces of costume is torn away at both men, Terry relying on his speed, and Damian on his strength. Eventually, Terry understood that this battled needed to end, and he had to put down Damian. Terry contacted the Batmobile and sent the autopilot to crash directly into the junk yard as well.

However...

Azrael's razor glove reached up and snatched the front of the Batmobile before it could crash down, holding it in mid air with his awesome strength.

"A mach 3 hovercraft impacting the battle ground, huh? That would cause a crash that would have surely killed us both. You are getting desperate, aren't you, McGinnis?"

With that, Azrael crashes the entire Batmobile down onto Batman, Terry barely able to dive out of the way.

With the Batmobile destroyed, Terry knew he was running out of options. However, visions and battleplans from the previous fight ran through his head, and soon, an idea was formed. In their last meeting, Terry tried to keep the fight long ranged. It was his usual fighting style, and Damian had to know it. If Terry fought close and directly, it may throwing off his plans.

At this point, he had to risk it.

"All you have to do is do what you did last time, McGinnis. Walk away. You have a family. Friends. You have so much to live for. No one would blame you if you simply took the coward's way out."

"Coward this!"





Terry lept right at Damian, his boot slicing across Azrael's mask, exposing Damian underneath.

A battle between two of the world's greatest fighters has been reduced to a sloppy, dirty fight, both men with their hands around each other's throats. However, even with all the damage to the Azrael armor, Damian was still stronger. Overpowering Terry, Damian finally draw out his sword, sparking it's flames.

"I want you to remember, McGinnis...in all the years to come....in your most private moments...I want you to remember my hand at your throat....I want you to remember the man who beat you..."

Damian's blade drew closer to Terry's throat, a smile forming on Damian's face.

"Of course, those years will not be lasting much longer.

Desperate, Terry reached into his utility belt, finding only one lone batarang. His trembling hand held it up, as Damian simply scoffed.

"You think on small toy will save you now?"

"P....please..."

"Please what? You want mercy? Now?"

"Pl...please....don't m..make me....."

"What?"

"...do....this."

Terry shut his eyes and turned his head away, holding the batarang directly up to Damian's eyes. With a violent flash, the flash bang batarang went off, blinding Damian. Screaming in pain, Damian feel off Terry, as Batman dove up and began wailing on Azrael. Every punch. Every kick. Every strike. Each blow was supported by months of wage until finally, Damian was vanquished.

"My eyes....I....I can't see..."

"Flash bang batarang right to the eyes. You probably will never see again."

"Please....kill me....I am nothing without my eyes?"

"Batman doesn't kill. That's why you'll never be Batman..."

Terry looks at the sight of approaching Gotham police cars arriving. He had won the day, but at what cost? Activating his wings, Terry took the skies and prepared for the flight back to Wayne Manor. He and the old man had a lot to talk about...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weeks passed and Damian sat quietly in his cell in new Arkham. He never spoke. He never moved. He simply lived in his own mind's world. A world not only filled with pain, loss, and frustration, but a world where he felt that there was no outlet to the pain he experienced. Only a man, a blindfold, a chair, and dead dreams. However, the door to the cell opened as a woman walked into the cell, reading a chart.

"Let's see...no name. No prints. No matching DNA. Looks like Arkham has it's very first John Doe patient since the Joker ran around here."

Silence.

"But, then again, we both know that the last thing you are is a John Doe. Isn't that right....Damian?"

Damian slowly lifted his head.

"Damian, my name is Nyssa Raatiko. I am a....friend of the family. Your grandfather had a little something special cooked up, just in case Bruce Wayne found a way to continue being a thorn in the League of Shadow's side. See...he has a team forming. A Syndicate. All they need now is a leader. However, I'm afraid that this 'Azrael' isn't exactly what he had in mind. See, your Grandfather...he never liked Bats..."

"...he was always more of a fan of...owls."

With that, Damian smiled.







