-Prologue-

---

     Otis Flannegan's seventh floor, South Gotham apartment is wretched. Depressingly dark, the only light available flickering from the television in the living room. The kitchen is filthy, food and grease cover the counter and cabinets where roaches can be seen darting sporadically.

     A steady drip from the leaky faucet into the clogged sink below rings through the small apartment but is drowned out by the increasingly loud sound from the television. A trail of mice scurry along the walls and up the cabinets, foraging for the readily available meals. Small flies patrol the area around the sink. A smell that could be likened to rotten eggs and body odor fouls the air.

     The flashes of light from the television illuminate a hand splayed over the arm of the chair, upturned and loosely holding a burnt-off cigarette with a stack of ash hanging on. Large flies encircle the living room, except those captured in nets of cobwebs which garland the corners and wreathe the ceiling fan light fixture. The furniture and television are covered in dust, broken only by the footprints of the resident rodents.

     Enthusiastic cheering echoes from the television, causing the hand to flinch, casting the tenuously held ash to the floor.

     On the television is the image of a celebratory Vicente Maroni, the mob boss turned mayor with the help of his deep pockets and political ties, celebrating yet another come-from-behind victory. Several gallon jugs filled with a brownish/yellow liquid litter the floor surrounding the chair where Otis sits slouched and semi-conscious with a can of beer in hand. His urine-stained underwear can be seen through his open, dirty robe.

     Maroni waves to his ecstatic supporters, who scream unintelligibly and who bear signs extolling the virtues of their beloved mayor. He motions for the crowd to be silent, which they promptly obey. 

     "THANK YOU, thank you," he says, clapping for himself.

     After two terms of being the mayor and having learned the ins and outs of the political machinery, he briefly but brazenly relays his strategy. Among the handful of prescriptions, which include cutting all regulation on banking and Wall Street, he unveils his plan to completely dismantle environmental protections for the sake of unimpeded business.

     Otis twitches at the mention of this governmental agency which kept him from working after a  incident resulting in him losing his credentials. The memories of his indiscretions flood his waking dreams.

     "Far too long have the great businesses of Gotham been hampered by ridiculous laws which have kept you," Mayor Vicente motions toward the crowd, "the hard-working men and women of this beautiful city, from the work that needs to be done," this spurrs a distinct chorus of boos, "...but no more."

     The adoring crowd cheers wildly, elated for the foretold economic boom.

"With the help of my cabinet," he says, motioning toward the men standing behind him, who's expressionless faces nod in approval, "we will get you BACK TO WORK GOTHAM!!" Mayor Maroni exclaims to ecstatic applause and fireworks, causing Otis to violently awaken, spilling his beer, and knocking over one of the nearby jugs.