Amid the disintegration of Gotham--seen through the eyes of the cops, firefighters, and average citizens forced to deal with the quake--Batman's morale begins to crumble, and the Dark Knight is tormented by doubts.

With Batman and Jim Gordon nearing despair, Vesper Fairchild gave a sort of state of the city address during her radio show. Batman stopped some graveyard looters and spoke with Gordon about the people left in their city. Bruce met his girlfriend (Vesper).