Bruce arrived at the Hall of Justice and was reminded once more how lacking the scientific research facilities are at the Hall. He takes the bullet used to kill the other worldly being and stores it in his utility belt for further testing back at the Cave. But before he can do that he is captured by Granny Goodness and taken to the Command-D bunker. There, Mr. Simyan and Mokkari are attempting to steal Batman's DNA and memories to imprint on an army of clones to serve the will of the returning evil god Darkseid.

With his body under heavy sedation and his mind kept occupied in a dream state filled with nightmarish images of paths not chosen - Lump continues to pilfer Bruce's subconscious using the avatar of Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce's mind plays out the false memories of a world where his parents never died and he lived as a constant disappointment to them. He lives a life kept free of adventure or any danger by a doting over-attentive mother and cannot seem to shake the persistent feeling that his life should have amounted to more.

Bruce's subconscious mind begins to hone in on that feeling and focuses deeper within himself to the well of actual memories where Lump's piracy continues. There, within one of the millions of otherwise innocuous moments existing in his memory, Bruce confronts the Alfred Pennyworth avatar. While his past self is performing routine maintenance on the Bat-mobile, Bruce breaks from the stream of events as it originally existed and confronts "Alfred." Bruce began to suspect Lump's existence when "Alfred" had mentioned something that took place during the time when Alfred Pennyworth had died and become the Outsider - something that the real Alfred Pennyworth would have no knowledge of.

His presence exposed, Lump reveals himself to Bruce and tells him of Darkseid's nefarious plans for his memories and DNA. Though lifeless in the real world, within the realm of the mind, Lump is a formidable opponent and begins attacking Batman with his own memories. Images of the pain and suffering over the years start exploding in Bruce's mind - having his back broken by Bane, the Gotham Earthquake, Tommy Elliot's betrayal, are all forced upon Bruce with speed and precision of a trained prize fighter. Nevertheless, Bruce's mind endures the punishment. The Batman, being forged through stress levels unimaginable to most men, in turn begins to throw the memories back at the Lump - at an even greater speed. Suddenly the Lump has the tables turned upon him as Bruce sends a torrential downpour of anguish directly into the mind of the parasite.

Back in the Command-D bunker, as the raw emotions of pain continue to flood into Lump's mind, the normally inanimate beast begins thrashing about in it's chair. Devoid of the spirit or will-power that drive and enable Bruce Wayne, the psycho-linked clones inside their test tubes begin clawing out their own eyeballs as the sheer stress level of being Batman is suddenly thrust upon them. Mr. Simyan and Mokkari start to panic. They decide to cut their losses and prepare the "soul killing bullets" to end the Lump's life, deeming the experiment a failure.

Shot by the soul-killing bullets, the Lump begins to die and his presence in Bruce's mind begins to fade. Bruce holds the dying beast in his arms and requests one final favor from the Lump. Bruce swears vengeance against those who betrayed Lump if he will only help him by freeing him from his restraints in the lab. Although the Lump insists that he is powerless within the physical realm, Batman gives him one final jolt of raw emotion. With images of the Thogal ritual, Damian Wayne's reveal and the tortures of Batman of Zur-En-Arrh coursing within him, the Lump rises and begins destroying the lab.

Simyan and Mokkari flee the lab, leaving Batman's utility belt (and the God killing bullet inside) behind as the clone filled test tubes burst and Lump's body begins to crumble and fall to pieces. Bruce Wayne awakens within his restraints.

Some time later, standing amongst the re-furbished Bat-Cave deep underneath Gotham City, Alfred Pennyworth reflects. "The whereabouts of Batman remain unknown. And yet I can see him now, in the grip of implacable forces, innumerable foes. Somewhere without hope. In a place where all seems lost. And I know this... The enemy will look away, for just a moment, underestimating him for that single fraction of a second too long. And no matter how dark the night there will be no hiding place for evil."