Where to Go from Here (Open)

[Bruce Wayne]

"I think the Batman is a hero," he told Julia, no need to think about it, "He may technically be a criminal by being a vigilante, but he helps the city. I have to like him."

[Julia Remarque]

Julia nodded her head in agreement. "He can do things the police can't because he's a vigilante." She grinned. "How goes the phrase go? You send a thief to catch a thief? You need someone who bends the rules to catch criminals. Idealism alone doesn't work." She'd experienced that first hand on far too many occasions. To her shame she'd taken care of good policemen who posed a threat to Jacques' undertakings.

"I heard that he never kills. Is that really possible for someone in his line of work?" she pondered.

[Bruce Wayne]

"I've never heard of him killing," Bruce said, "So I suppose so. But if you must know for certain, find him. Then you can ask."

[Julia Remarque]

"If that's true I wonder if it's smart. Some of the criminals he gifts to the police like the joker escape. They kill many more innocent people because they continue to exist."

Julia simply laughed. "I doubt I could find Batman. I'm a decent hacker but I'm sure better than me have looked. No, I'm better with my poisons and antidotes."

[Alfred Pennyworth]

Alfred sipped his tea, worried about the effect Julia's words would have on Master Wayne. Batman always took pains never to kill. And this of course could have negative repercussions. Alfred believed Batman was right to do so. People didn't have a right to decide who should live and die on their own. But Julia's words made sense and he only hoped they wouldn't trouble Master Wayne.

So it was as he suspected. Julia was a hacker. Hacking alone wouldn't be enough to find Batman but she would be living under the same roof as the vigilante. If she was perceptive and alert she might figure it out. If Master Wayne wanted to keep his identity a secret from Julia as he suspected he would for at least some time both he and Alfred would have their work cut out.

[Bruce Wayne]

"I wonder the same at times...," Bruce muttered, on the topic if sparing everyone was safe. He left it at that, sitting in silence.

[Julia Remarque]

"So what do you think Batman should do Bruce? He's a vigilante operating outside of the law to begin with. I can understand why he wouldn't want to have people's blood on his hands like that. It's really tough to look into a person's eyes and watch their raw emotions as their life slips away." She'd seen those desperate gazes so many times. Far too many times. She really hated when she needed to be there personally to inject someone with a lethal dose of something.

"But at the same time if you suspect a prison can't properly hold a dangerous criminal it might be best just to cut them loose. If you had to choose between a monster's life and a bunch of innocent people...Well the numbers alone should make the decision obvious." Julia didn't like killing but she saw the necessity of it. Some people simply couldn't be stopped until they were cold in a grave.

[Bruce Wayne]

"All I can think is that the Batman knows that," Bruce said, trying to keep himself in check and not overplay anything. He knew what she was saying was true, but he could do nothing about it. "If he started to kill, would he really be someone that could be viewed as a hero? Or would he just become another monster in the night?"

[Julia Remarque]

Julia stared directly back at Bruce. "But just what do we define as a hero?" she asked. "Is a hero someone who isn't grey but a pure white knight? But what can a pure white knight really accomplish? If you don't do anything morally questionable you're buried under nine feet of yellow tape. Isn't a hero someone who gets things done? Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty to protect what's important," she insisted.

"A hero is someone admired for brave and noble qualities. I think it's truly admirable to at least temporarily set aside your own morals to protect other people. Is it really heroic to leave someone alive when you know they'll kill again? Or is that in its own right cowardly?"

She admired Batman. She really did. But his lack of murder did trouble her. People like the joker should never be given second chances. They'd squander them every time.

[Bruce Wayne]

"Those are questions for another day, another person," he told her. "I could give you answers, but I think he's doing things as he needs to. Those questions might be better directed at the Batman himself, not me."

[Julia Remarque]

Julia shrugged. "It's more a thought exercise than anything I suppose. Making poisons and antidotes...That's simple. How to use them is another matter. Morals are complicated and vary with perspective. My morals...if I can be considered to have any are pretty screwed up," she acknowledged.

"But it's a matter of a sacrifices. Do you sacrifice your peace of mind and sense of morality to protect others or do you let others bleed so you don't consider yourself a monster? Well I suppose either way you're a monster. It's just a matter of what type." Yes, everyone had a demon within them.

[Alfred Pennyworth]

At least Julia believed in the dark side of human nature. Alfred could tolerate quite a bit but if his daughter had been a blind idealist that would have been tough to handle. Still, this line of conversation troubled him. It wasn't that he didn't want her to think such things or ask such probing questions; but, Master Wayne had enough guilt as it was. He didn't need Julia's accidental help. Still, he supposed her own guilt prompted such questions.

"Julia, I think it's best to acknowledge that when you're emotionally invested in cases you lose your objectivity. Think of the destruction and loss of life Batman has witnessed at the hands of people like the Joker. I think it would be impossible for him not to hold some contempt for those responsible. Perhaps he's worried about killing for the wrong reasons. Might it not be that he's concerned his anger might get the best of him and he'd rather let people more removed from the case handle the culprit's punishment?"

[Julia Remarque]

"Yes people do have a tough time hanging onto objectivity," she acknowledged. She chuckled. "We're too good at rationalizing."

[Alfred Pennyworth]

True enough. Alfred wondered just how much time both Master Wayne and Julia spent rationalizing and justifying their actions to themselves. He spent his fair share of time doing the same yet it was different. He hadn't directly been involved with the dirty work since his military intelligence days. It was easier being a distanced assistant. Easier yet tougher. Since Alfred was too old to help with the physical aspect Master Wayne needed to deal with so much on his own. Alfred wished he could participate in the fighting. Then maybe he could help alleviate some of Master Wayne's guilt. He wished he could do more to lessen Batman's burden. However, unlike Batman, Alfred could and did acknowledge his limits.

"Perhaps we're just good enough to save us all from mental breakdowns," he teased. "Rationalization is healthy in small doses." He looked over at Julia and Bruce. "Oh how much rationalization you two have to do. Yes, it'll be a long while before you catch up to me. See if you can boast of no mental breakdowns by the time you're 65!"