Chapter Text
It started as a rumor.
Bubbles surfacing at large amounts.
A dark shadow appearing in the sea.
Notorious criminals and random goons disappearing off the shore.
It seemed like a Lovecraft novel come to life.
Bruce had been monitoring the situation since the shadows first popped up. Despite his vast resources, he could not learn about what was going on.
He even asked for help from Aquaman but even he couldn't see anything.
He had thought about contacting Constantine or Jason Blood about this oddity, but he didn't think it had anything to do with the paranormal.
Still, whether it was something or nothing, he had to know what it was.
"Oracle, what are the results of the water tests" He said as he sat in the batmobile. He was seated outside the bay to monitor any activity.
"Same as last time, Bruce" She said "Salt, water, bacteria, algae, plankton, and traces of human waste. Seriously, all this did is make me thank Dad for never taking to swim in the ocean".
"I don't buy it" He says "Something is causing this".
"Bruce, you are being more paranoid than usual" She said "Are you sure everything is going well".
"Not since Joker vanished" He said "He was spotted here. Whatever is doing this, Joker has something to do with it".
"Maybe Spellbinder is offing the competition" She said "Not the first time he's tried to mass murder people by have them drown".
"Negative. I already called Belle Reve after his stunt at the UN. He is still there".
"Look, Bruce, I tried everything. I've scanned the waters, tested it's contents, did a map of the topology of the bay, even stole documents from both the White House and Legion of Doom. Nothing. It's probably some natural phenomena like Sky Quakes".
Bruce exhaled from his nose, showing he is not content.
"Ugh, fine. I'll, I don't know, study the tectonic plate". She hung up, frustrated.
Bruce looked at the bay once more.
.
.
.
"Lucius, has the-".
Lucius Fox cut him off "The Batsub is still in under construction, Bruce. You've asked me this five times today. Give it a rest". He hung up.
Bruce then contacted Aquaman again "Arthur, can you scan the waters near Gotham again?".
"Negative, Bruce" He said, his voice gasping for water? air? "Orm has began an assault on Atlantis again. Even then, last time I did it, I got sick from your city's rancid water".
Bruce hung up before slamming his fist on the dash.
Finally, he sighed and bit the bullet "Constantine, Blood, can any of you come over to see if a demon or something has landed in Gotham bay".
"The barrier between Hell and the Living is at it's thickest" Jason said "Even if something did enter, you'd know it was something".
"Not to mention none of us are goin' near Gotham again" Constantine added "Last time we were there, that bloody Clown of yours kidnapped me and tried to summon all of Hell. That city is cursed".
"I just need to see if there is anything" Bruce stated.
"Look, neither us or any members of Justice League Black sensed anything entering in or around Gotham" Jason clarified "Remember, we can sense when the barriers are broken or something passes".
"Right, now sod off" Constantine spoke "We're trackin' down a demon in Cameroon and we can't have you distracin' us".
The pair disconnected, leaving Bruce to look upon the waters of Gotham.
His mind thought of ways to examine the water.
A dead fish rose. I had look like it was growing fingers and had one eye. Even the serious and steadfast Bruce had to recoil at that. Maybe he should start a cleanup effort to make sure this water doesn't mutate anything else. Or worse, cause it to cause another incident with Atlantis.
As he wrote down the idea, he heard the comms ring.
"Bruce" Barbara said "I found something".
"What is it?".
"While the topology seems intact, there is lines in the floor. After doing tectonic research, I found that the plate has been bored into and covered. If I had to guess, it might be a loan from Gorilla City".
"That's why Aquaman couldn't detect it. The Shielding of Gorilla City can even neutralize Darkseid's sense, let alone Aquaman. I will send a message to the League about this before-".
The world began to shake. Cars stopped as the drivers got out. Windows either opened from curious men or shattered.
From the water, emerged a blade carved of marble. It was followed by a statue of a woman holding it. As it rose, it became what it was, it was a palace. However, it kept rising. Soon, earth came up. Flora sprouted from it as more and more came up.
It became clearer now.
This wasn't just a palace.
As Ice and lava poured from two different ends and buildings ranging from high rises to small homes manifested, he finally called it.
"Oracle, an island is emerging from Gotham Bay".
"I can see that" She said "It looks almost like something from a manga".
Finally, after what felt like hours, it stopped. The island had ceased rising.
From looking at it, it looked almost fantastical. On the west end was a volcano, lava casually flowing into the water. On the end, a massive icy glacier stood.
There was a beach, river, jungle, swamp, small desert, everything.
It almost looked like a diagram of biomes and terrain.
Then there was the palace. At the back of the island, a massive mountain stands proud. At the top is a palace or marble and stone.
As people gathered to see what this island was, the billboards and local devices began to be hijacked.
Soon, a woman appeared. She wore knight's armor mixed with cybernetic technology. Her eyes starred at whatever camera was used, one eye was green but the other an artificial blue that looked like a screen.
"Astrid Arkham" Bruce said as she spoke.
"Citizens of Gotham. Rejoice as we have birthed a fourth island. Behold, your new neighbor" A flag unfurled behind her as cheering came from the island "This island is Arkhadia, where Gotham's greatest shall be headquartered. We hope you respect our sovereignty or face death".
The flag was an older logo for Arkham Asylum.
As screens changed, several boats left a cove that was near the volcano. The boats held armed gangsters and thugs. Bruce braced himself for a battle but the boats spread out a began to patrol the waters.
This wasn't an attack, this was reinforcement.
Bruce knew this wasn't the end.
As life slowly returned to Gotham, he saw as more buildings manifested.
"Bruce, you thinking what I am thinking?" Barbara asked.
"This island needs to fall" He said as he drove away.
Arkhadia was something Bruce wasn't expecting, but it wasn't something he didn't prepare for.