Gotham City.

She sits across a desk inside a very busy G.C.P.D. building from the detective wanting answers.  Policemen and detectives alike wander about, dealing with their own issues.  Her name is Vicki Vale and she has quite an ordeal to recall, looking across the desk of Detective Renee Montoya.  Renee’s grin is reassuring.  Vicki is safe for now.

Renee “Okay, let’s go back to the beginning of this.  You said you were leaving the Apex News building…”

Vicki “Yes.  That’s when I saw the Tigress.  Black and yellow striped dress…sunglasses….the red headband.  And then some brute capturing me from behind.”

Renee “What do you remember between that and being rescued?”

Vicki pauses.

Vicki “I was blindfolded.  I remember hearing this voice talking into my left ear.  It was different from Tigress’ voice.”

Renee “Male or female?”

Vicki “Male.  Familiar, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.  For some reason I still can’t.  I know I’ve heard that voice somewhere before though.  He talked about this…war.  This war for Gotham City.  He blamed me.  He blamed me for the war being accelerated.”

Vicki pauses, shaking her head as she looks down momentarily before looking back up at Renee.

Vicki “All I do is report what’s out there, Detective Montoya.  The crime, the corruption…the Crusaders out there fighting against it.”

Renee “When this mysterious person mentioned a war, were these…’Crusaders’ mentioned at all?”

Vicki “I remember him saying that he believed me.  That it’s not an urban legend.  That they’re real.  And because I keep talking about them wanting to protect the city, it’s accelerated this war.  This war that’s coming.  This war…I know that there has been a rivalry among local gangs here, but that’s always been there.  I wasn’t able to ask for clarification due to a gag in my mouth.”

For a moment, Vicki forgets about being a reporter and her mind focuses on just being a human with emotions.  She feels a slight lump in her throat.

Vicki “He could have done anything.  I wouldn’t have been able to stop him.  My wrists were bound.  My ankles were bound.  I couldn’t see and I couldn’t talk.  …All he wanted to do…was deliver this warning to me.”

Renee “About the coming war?”