PLOT:
The Bear instinctively flees from the harsh white light leaving the Dark Knight alone to fend for himself against the cold eyed gunmen. Though within moments of analyzing the soldiers Batman comes to realize that they're nothing more than a sophisticated light projection. The projectionist of which appears to be a lonely
agoraphobic man named Petr who lives within the labyrinthine sewer tunnels beneath Moscow for fear of the world the Tsar has created above. Petr and his father created the volumetric display and has come to befriend the silent illusion as though they were real people. But unlike Petr who is kept in his cold and dark prison by a fear of the outside world, the chaotic streets above call to Batman who is forced to leave Petr behind in order to continue his search for the Bear.
Above ground, Batman's one-man mission to strike fear in the heart of Moscow's criminals continues to improve. But one thing that un-nerves the local mob bosses more than the Bat or The Bear is the prospect of the Tsar being in possession of a giant thermonuclear bomb. But they aren't the only ones disquieted by such a notion. General Lukzov is equally troubled by this information.
Returning from his nightly rounds, Batman returns to his alter-ego's hotel room to to find General
Nikolai Lukzov and his men waiting for him. Lukzov has taken to listening in on "Bateman's" private phone calls back to America and has deduced that Bateman and Batman are one in the same. Though he does not arrest him, Lukzov is still hesitant to formally work together with the Bat. He's been around far too long to believe that Moscow's problems can be fixed by adding yet another freak to the fray.
After all, this is Russia, not Gotham, and Lukzov is no Commissioner Gordon. As a matter of fact he seems to have quite the close relationship with the Tsar. Their relationship stems from a career saving bust that the Tsar tipped him off to back when Lukzov's drinking problem threatened to end his career. Needless to say, Stavrogin is very displeased that the Batman is still haunting the streets of Moscow as it was the Tsar who had originally sent Lukzov to
apprehend Batman in the first place. He decides that Lukzov will pay for his
disobedience with in blood.
The Bear may have engaged the Batman prematurely but if he wants to stay in the good graces of the man who has raised him since he was young, he will follow the Tsar's orders and aid in the execution of Lukzov's family. But the Bear is tired of being beaten. He's tired of being whipped. He doesn't want to take the Tsar's special "medicine" anymore. And more importantly he's beginning to believe that the creature calling himself 'The Batman' might not be the demon
Stavrogin makes him out to be.
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