Chapter 38: The Welfare Foundation
Batman crouched in the shadows of the warehouse rafters, his cape blending seamlessly with the darkness above. He'd been watching for the past hour, having anticipated this meeting just as the Architect had. If a vigilante with shapeshifting abilities could infiltrate the crime families' emergency meetings, then there's no way the World's Greatest Detective couldn't do the same.
He'd positioned himself perfectly to observe and intervene if necessary, but what he witnessed challenged many of the assumptions he'd made about the Architect.
The elimination of gang leaders had been brutal but expected. The biomass explosions, the consumption of enemies—all consistent with the monster he'd been hunting. But when the Dollotrons attacked, everything changed.
Batman watched through his cowl's enhanced optics as the Architect fought forty modified humans, never once delivering a killing blow. Each strike was to disable, each injection of biomass designed to heal rather than harm. The monster was capable of... saving them.
"Fascinating," Batman murmured, his voice barely audible over the sounds of battle below.
The Architect could have slaughtered the Dollotrons in seconds—but instead, he demonstrated something far more remarkable. With accuracy, he repaired their shattered, lobotomized minds and gently guided their broken bodies into protective comas. His ability to reverse such profound neurological damage was nothing short of miraculous—a testament to the terrifying depth of his healing power.
While the Architect was busy healing the Dollatrons, Batman immediately gave chase to the escaping crime bosses. His grappling hook caught Falcone's vehicle three blocks away, and within minutes he had both Carmine Falcone and Sal Maroni in custody.
"The GCPD will be very interested in your emergency summit," Batman growled as he zip-tied the crime bosses. "Especially the part about genocide."
After delivering Falcone and Maroni to Gordon, Batman returned to the warehouse. The scene was exactly as he'd observed—forty sleeping figures arranged carefully on the floor, their breathing steady and peaceful for the first time in months.
Batman activated his comm unit. "Gordon, I need emergency medical teams at my location . Multiple victims of surgical modification, but they're stable. Send the paramedics and Detective Montoya—she'll know how to handle this sensitively."
As sirens wailed in the distance, Batman studied the sleeping faces of the Dollotrons. Homeless people, street kids, the forgotten members of society that Professor Pyg had twisted into weapons. The Architect had given them back their humanity.
"Interesting," Batman murmured, filing away this contradiction & ability in the Architect's profile.
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Three days later, Bruce Wayne stood in the spacious lobby of the newly established Dollotron Recovery Center, watching construction crews put the finishing touches on what would become Gotham's most advanced psychological rehabilitation facility. The building had been purchased and renovated in record time, with Wayne Industries' resources making the impossible seem routine.
"The medical equipment alone cost twelve million," Lucius Fox was saying, reviewing the facility's specifications on his tablet. "Not to mention the round-the-clock nursing staff, the specialized therapy rooms, the secure living quarters..."
"Money well spent," Bruce replied, his attention focused on the wing where the recovering Dollotrons were being housed. "These people deserve the best care we can provide."
It had been his idea to establish the center, but Bruce had been very specific about who should lead the psychological recovery program. There was only one person in Gotham qualified to handle such complex trauma cases—the same psychology student who'd been consulting on the Architect case.
"Are you certain about Dr. Thorne?" Lucius asked, following Bruce's gaze. "He's brilliant, certainly, but he's still quite young. This level of responsibility..."
"He's the only one who understands the psychological implications of what these people went through," Bruce said firmly. "I have read his research papers. His expertise in criminal pathology and trauma recovery makes him uniquely qualified."
What Bruce didn't mention was his growing interest in Alex Thorne as a potential ally. The young man's brilliant insights into criminals, his belief in law and justice, combined with his genuine dedication to helping victims, made him exactly the kind of person Batman needed in his network. But that same combination of intelligence and moral conviction could just as easily lead someone down a darker path if they became disillusioned with the system.
Bruce had seen it happen before—brilliant minds twisted by trauma and frustration into something dangerous. He'd rather have someone like Alex Thorne where he could guide and monitor them, ensuring their talents were used for good rather than vengeance.
Alex emerged from the main therapy wing, carrying a thick folder of patient files. He'd been working eighteen-hour days since the center opened, personally overseeing each patient's recovery process. His dedication was admirable, if somewhat obsessive.
"Mr. Wayne," Alex said, approaching with that easy smile that never quite reached his eyes. "I wanted to thank you again for making this possible. The progress we're seeing is remarkable."
"I'm glad to hear it," Bruce replied, studying the young man's face. "How are they responding to treatment?"
"Better than expected," Alex said, opening his folder. "Forty patients in total, all showing significant improvement. Whoever healed them before did a pretty good job. There's no trace of the previous surgery, and their traumatic memories have been suppressed. "Still, it will take the mind time to fully heal and rid itself of its influence. The progress, however, is very good."
Bruce nodded, listening carefully to Alex's clinical assessment. "Have any of them recovered memories of their captor?"
Alex's expression grew serious. "Several have. The memories are... disturbing. Professor Pyg—that's what they called him—wasn't just performing surgery. He was conducting experiments, studying how to completely erase human identity while keeping the body functional."
"And what did you learn about his methods?"
Alex paused, as if considering how much to reveal. "He has a God complex, but it's specifically focused on creating perfect, obedient children. The victims describe him as obsessed with surgical perfection and symmetry. He can't tolerate imperfection of any kind."
Bruce felt impressed by the clinical precision of Alex's analysis. The young man understood predators on a level that suggested either exceptional natural talent or extensive study. Either way, it was exactly the kind of insight that could be invaluable in the war against crime.
"Where do you think he might be now?" Bruce asked.
"Gone," Alex said without hesitation. "Men like Pyg don't adapt well to failure. Having his 'perfect creations' taken away would be mentally devastating. He's either fled the city or..." Alex trailed off, then shook his head. "I'd rather not speculate."
"Of course," Bruce said smoothly. "I don't want to keep you from your patients. But I was wondering—would you be interested in consulting on some other cases? Wayne Industries has been developing a criminal psychology database, and your insights could be invaluable."
Alex's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "What kind of cases?"
"Unusual ones," Bruce replied. "Cases where traditional profiling methods fall short. Like the Architect."
For just a moment, Bruce thought he saw Alex's academic excitement intensify—the look of someone genuinely fascinated by a complex psychological puzzle. It was exactly the kind of enthusiasm Bruce wanted to see channeled constructively.
"The Architect," Alex repeated thoughtfully. "Yes. We have discussed this one before. The vigilante who's been eliminating crime families. I've been following that case in the news. Fascinating psychological profile."
"Oh? What's your assessment?"
Alex was quiet for a long moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "Highly intelligent, methodical, with a strong sense of justice that's been twisted by trauma. The consecutive targeting of corrupt officials and violent criminals suggests someone who's been personally victimized by the them."
Bruce nodded, encouraging him to continue.
"But the most interesting aspect is the escalation pattern," Alex continued. "Early kills were simple eliminations. But recent cases show increasing psychological sophistication—torturing Vincent Torrino with his own methods, arranging bodies as symbolic scales of justice. This isn't just about killing criminals anymore. It's about making them suffer in ways that mirror the suffering they've caused."
"Sounds like you've given this considerable thought."
"It's academically fascinating," Alex said with a shrug. "A case study in how trauma can reshape moral reasoning. The Architect genuinely believes he's serving justice, but his methods are becoming increasingly elaborate and personal."
Bruce stored every word of Alex's analysis, impressed by the depth of insight. The young man's ability to understand criminal psychology was remarkable—the kind of talent that could either serve justice or become its greatest threat, depending on how it was nurtured.
"Well," Bruce said finally, "I'd be very interested in having you review our files. Perhaps you could identify patterns that we've missed."
"I'd be honored," Alex replied. "Though I should mention—I'm planning to focus entirely on the Dollotron recovery program for the next few weeks. These patients need consistent care, and I don't want to compromise their treatment."
"Of course," Bruce said. "Their recovery is the priority."
As Alex walked back toward the therapy wing, Bruce watched him go with growing conviction. The young man was brilliant, dedicated, and deeply committed to helping victims of trauma. He was also exactly the kind of person who could become either Batman's greatest ally or a dangerous enemy, depending on how life shaped him.
But for now, Alex Thorne was exactly where Bruce wanted him—under mentorship and guidance, working with victims and channeling his insights toward healing rather than revenge. If Bruce could nurture that compassion while providing proper outlets for Alex's analytical brilliance, he might gain an invaluable ally in the war against crime.
The Dollotron Recovery Center represented more than just Wayne Industries' commitment to victim services. It was an opportunity to shape a remarkable young mind toward the light rather than letting it drift toward darkness.
The question was: could Bruce guide Alex's development before the harsh realities of Gotham's corruption tested his faith in justice?
Notes : It's nearly impossible to reverse the process once someone becomes a Dollotron. Batman weighed his options and chose to let the Architect heal, rather than stop him.
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