Albaraa 's Final Fanfiction

Batman: The Next Generation (2033).

Episode 1: Setting the scene

The source of Alfred Wayne’s fortune was shadowy, even to Alfred.  From a young age, Alfred had been raised by a series of maids and butlers.  He did know, however, that a higher intelligence had been guiding his growth and development from a young age.  Unlike some rich boys, he was placed on a strict stipend, according to the wishes of his late father’s will. (There was no mention of Alfred’s mother in the will, not even her identity).  His late father Bruce also mandated that his son be exposed to all of the suffering of the world.  Alfred was told, at various intervals, that he must go abroad to volunteer in impoverished regions of the world, as a condition of his inheritance. He was also required to go to college, and, after receiving his acceptance from an institution, he would receive the full amount (estimated in billions) of the late Bruce Wayne.

Despite growing up under such pressure, by all accounts, Alfred was a likeable but not particularly studious young man.  Despite his occasional mandatory trips to South America and Eastern Europe, overall life had come pretty easily to Alfred, and even though people liked him, it was widely assumed that he would casually fill the shoes of the typical Gotham City playboy—going to sporting events, being seen in clubs, and always being seen with the right socialites on his arm.  No one was willing to cross him, particularly because he seemed so nice and amiable, the very antithesis of his brooding father.  After a generous donation to Gotham University by the Wayne Foundation, he was accepted by the prestigious city university.

“Let’s go out clubbing,” said Alfred one night to his roommate Robin.  Robin, unlike Wayne, was a scholarship student.  The child of circus acrobats, he was at Gotham University on a full scholarship.  Robin had a secret of his own, but one which he had not revealed to Alfred. “It’s Friday night, it’s no time to study.”

“Well...okay...” said Robin, unsure of how he could get out of the situation.  He agreed and followed Alfred into the night. The two young men went to the local hangout, the Joker’s Wild, a dark and cavernous bar. Alfred easily met a girl, and Robin talked to her friend.  “I think she likes you,” said Bruce when the two girls went to the bathroom together. However, Robin just shrugged.

SLAM!  Alfred and Robin turned around. Suddenly, they were in the midst of a brawl.  “What are you, trying to pick me up?” said a thuggish-looking fraternity boy.

“I wasn’t trying to do anything” said the other college kid, being held by the scruff of the thug’s neck.

“You and your boyfriend were bothering me,” quoth the thug.

“What’s it to you, anyway,” said the kid, brave even though he could barely talk because the other guy’s knuckles were digging into his windpipe.

Robin sprang into action, every bit of his circus training coming to the forefront.  He grabbed the frat boy like the guy was a toy, instead of the 200 pound plus bruiser that he had seemed a moment ago. “Do you have a problem with that?” said Robin.  “Because I sure have a problem with you.”

Alfred was stunned and immediately felt inadequate.  Sure, he didn’t like to see injustice done.  But whenever he saw something like that—people beating up on the weaker and more vulnerable, he was more inclined to stand aside than to act.

It also suddenly occurred to him, based upon Robin’s reaction, why his roommate was not particularly interested in going out to pick up chicks.

The next Saturday, nursing a slight hangover, Alfred appeared in the law office of the executor of his father’s will. This was the day he would receive his full inheritance.  The lawyer handed Alfred a grey box.  The lock of the box was shaped like the mouth of a bat.  The lawyer handed him a key.

Inside the box was a check for one billion dollars and change (‘change’ meaning several millions. Alfred knew, of course, that he was to receive this great sum of money but seeing all of those zeros made him tremble.  But there was something that took him by surprise—along with the check there was a grey mask...and a letter.

Dear son:

Because of the persecution of my enemies, I fear that I will not live to see your birth.  But I write you this letter to be worthy of your inheritance. Many years ago, when I was a young boy, even younger than you are now, I witnessed the death of my parents—your grandparents. From that day forward I resolved to steel myself against the injustice of the world.  I trained my mind and body incessantly so that I could take action when the law could not.

From the grave, I have done everything in my power to ensure that you too will have a keen sense of justice.  You have been granted many privileges, but know that to those whom much is given, much is expected.

Signed,

Bruce “Batman” Wayne

Alfred put down the letter.  Could it be?  His father was the legendry caped crusader, more of a figure of myth than reality.  Suddenly, he felt a sense of shame...but what could he do to change himself....