Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2013 9:38:12 GMT -5
All the Little Children
Story By: Batwoman
Act 1, Scene 1
Batwoman: Gotham City, 2100h, Sunday July 14, 2013 - Detective Renee Montoya grudgingly sat up, pushing back the dark sheets as she ran a hand through her thick, shoulder length hair. The Mexican-American detective looked over at her lover, the Marine scrub out turned reluctant socialite Katherine Kane. “Hey,” she said, nudging the red haired woman with her elbow as she shifted out of the bed. “Get up.” Her words were gruff, gruffer than she had wanted them to be, but there was something on her mind. “Mmhm?” Kane’s sleepy voice called, the pale arm she had cast over her eyes raising just enough for Montoya to see the narrowed green slits. “What?” “Time to go to work,” Renee said, slipping back into her bra and panties, before pulling up her trousers and pulling her shirt off the back of a chair. To this, Kane pushed up on her elbows, raising a brow. “I thought you said you were on days this week? It’s like twenty-hundred,” the red haired woman asked, both her body language and her eyes pleading with her lover to return to the bed. “Not me,” she said, fishing a set of files from her brief case. “You.” She tossed the Gotham City PD paperwork towards her. “I figured we’re stuck; there isn’t anything in our power we can do at this point. Maybe you know some people who can help,” Renee said, almost too casually as she sat down in the previously mentioned chair to put her socks back on. Kate sat up, reaching for the folders, understanding that it must be serious if Renee wanted her involved. Since letting her lover know she was the vigilante Batwoman, Renee had always been much more careful about what she disclosed about work to Kate. On the one hand, she understood, if Renee was found to be the lea inside Gotham City PD that was feeding information to the masked crowd, it would be the end of a career she worked extremely hard for. On the other, it hurt that she was now keeping things she had eagerly shared before.
“What’s this?” “I think we’ve got human traffickers. A list of twenty kids, all from the Narrows and surrounding areas, all with no one who’d really miss them, all missing. No bodies. No sightings. I figured you might be able to extend the arm of the law, or maybe one of your friends can.” “But I thought we?” Kate was confused, looking up at the caramel skinned beauty as she crossed to the bed, leaning over it to say: “This is much more important than going to see the new Emma Stone movie, and you know it.” Renee gave her lover a kiss. “I’ll talk to you in the morning, KatieBug. I love you,” she said, knowing that the red headed woman found the nicknames equal parts endearing and irritating. Kate gritted her teeth as she was kissed like a child and Renee used that childish nickname for her. “I love you too,” she muttered, not quite grudgeningly but certainly not as sweetly as she would have had Montoya not tried to be cute. With that, Renee left, leaving Kane with only the sound of her key turning in the deadbolt as she did. With a sigh, she pushed out of bed, pulling a tank top over her pale body and slipping into a pair of black cotton briefs, grabbing the files and heading to the kitchen to make some coffee. Something told her this was going to be a long night.
Gotham City, 0030h, Monday July 15, 2013 – Renee had a sick sense of humour; Kane had settled on this a long time ago, but now it as becoming even more evident. The files contained enough details for her to get a little extra information, but not enough. Not even close to enough. She had suited up, her uniform she had called it. Kane sighed, pulling out the red wig from the back of the cowl, letting the locks lay around her shoulders. “What is this, Kate?” her dad had asked her when he had found out what she was really up to. “It’s my way of helping.” “You’re a vigilante now? Another one of those masked freaks?” His words had cut her, deeply, deeper than she had ever let on. “I’m a god damn soldier, Dad!” she had fought back. “You have your uniform. This is mine!” and since that day, that is exactly how she had viewed it. It was a mission, an operation, and to be treated with the same respect, dedication and care that would have been expected of her in the Marines. She took the files, sliding them into a black bag and placing that in a compartment on the back of her suit so as to keep both of her hands free. The Monster lit up like a dream and she jealously eyed the Supermotard next to it. Her day bike was so much more fun to drive, but this wasn’t about fun. This was a mission, and she had no choice as to whether she would accept it. Renee had made it clear that she had already exhausted the extent to which she could pursue the cases, and to her lover’s notes she had already added what she could gather, but there was someone in Gotham who surpassed even Kate’s formidable forensic hacking skills, and while she was loathed to make contact with her former friend, there was more to this case than her own pride. When it came to children, Kane would always have a hard time not being able to save them. She had failed to save Liz, twice; she couldn’t live with the souls of more children haunting her dreams. Her Batcycle charged from the underground garage, through a special passageway that first led into the sewers then the drainage canals before exiting on to the streets. Kate knew how to get in touch with her friend, through one of the woman’s new friends, but how to find them? That was a little trickier.
Act 1, Scene 2
Batwoman: Gotham City; 0145h – Kate had managed to track down the two Birds of Prey known as Huntress and Black Canary. She had heard of Huntress more than the other, but she knew of both, though she had never actually met either. Truth be told, off the bat, she had been jealous of the purple clad bow slinger, when Renee had mentioned her. Of course, her lover hadn’t done the other woman any favours by mentioning her in comparison to the red haired Batwoman. She stalked the pair from a higher vantage point. All three women possessed certain traits which made them similar, aside from their flare for the theatric and an inspiration taken from a certain dark knight. They all rode motorcycles, for instance, and although Kane wouldn’t know to draw this similarity yet, they were all drawn into what they do by their parents: Dinah by her mother, Kate by her father, and Helena by both. “If I were a bird of prey, where would I be hiding?” she thought to herself, peering into the dark allies below. She was led to her current position by what she had thought was the Black Canary’s motorcycle, though from this height she could be wrong. It was best to go in for a closer look...
Black Canary: A gleaming purple motorcyce that had obivously been well tuned roared as the blonde deftly wove through traffic on the streets of the East End as if they was standing still. The blonde's hair billowed in the wind just like her leather jacket. She did a hard turn expertly down a side alley. "Hey, Huntress. Everything is quiet past Grove St, it's almmost too quiet, making me nervous. I'm going to continue roof side." she slowed down and parked the bike behind a dumpster and with an acrobat's skill hoisted herself up onto a fire escape, she climbed up instead of taking the ladders it being faster. She started to dash and leap across rooftops. An obvious grin on her face enjoying the rush of the night about her. All the while examining the streets below. "Are you still hunting your gazelle?" she teased tapping her earpiece again.
Huntress: The Huntress listened to Dinah’s motorcycle roar as she moved across the rooftop silently, shifting as the blonde spoke in her earpiece softly. Sometimes, she missed working alone. “Yeah, yeah.” The woman answered in quiet reply as she took a running start, jumping from one rooftop to another and tucking into a roll. It was indeed a quiet night, so quiet that her and the infamous Black Canary had ended up a mere block from one another. Cape settling around her, Huntress breathed in deeply, the soft wind catching her hair as she shook her head at Dinah’s next question when her blue eyes flicked to the side, catching a tangle of red hair from the corner of her eyes a few rooftops away. “No, I’ve changed flavors it seems. Not enough color in the pelt.” She answered in that same quiet tone as her brows furrowed and she straightened. “Don’t bother me.” Dropping her hand from her mask to stop her own transmission she changed directions and moved from the roof top she was on to the next, this time taking more care to be silent. Of course Canary went rooftop lurking, it wasn’t like that was Huntress’ deal or anything. Damn bird needed to keep her yellow feathered butt on the ground.
Batwoman: As the two women talked, Kate worked her way down the scaffolding that comprised the building’s outer fire escape system. She paused as she got close enough to hear them talking, and sure enough they referred to each other by their call signs. Looks like step one was complete. Now to move on to the actual contact, which to be honest, was going to be a little more difficult. Huntress wasn’t exactly known for working well with others, and even if Canary could be seen as one of the gentler masks in Gotham, it wasn’t exactly like people like the Red Hood set a high bar for “nice.” She crouched, her cape dropping around her body as her green eyes peered down on the women. They seemed to disperse, one sticking to the ground while Canary took to climbing up towards her. Well that’s convenient, she thought to herself. Kate had developed her aerial fighting skills beyond the average crime fighter in the city, not that it was Kate’s plan to attack, but always better to have the advantage. Her retreat to the roof top took only a moment, and less time even to find a friendly shadow, concealing herself for a moment to wait. This was as good a spot as any to meet them: they were away from civilians, and as far as Kane could tell the roof top was clean. Now it was just a matter of waiting for the blonde song bird to crest the parapet opposite
her.
Black Canary: Black Canary smirked as she heard her friend and often bregrudged partner reply. "Oh, really? Well, let me know if I can help flush them towards you." she said and gave a soft grunt as she landed on top of the old abandoned church, climbing to stand on top of stone steeple lined with stone angels, she looked at one. Ever since that bad horror movie marathon Helena had insisted they watch she found the statues gave her the creeps. She scanned about the area, watching the pedestrian traffic, her booted heel on the foot of a stone step on some stone scroll work, her black fishnet looking stark against her skin in the pale moonlight up there. She didn't hear or see anything with the shadows nearby, not suspecting that she was being watched, even while she was actively scanning. But she caught something on the wind, the slight scent of Daylillies and violets. It reminding her of someone. She ran through the scents in her mind and smiled remembering a particular member of law inforcement. She stood still waiting, like the stone angels about her.
Huntress: Huntress wrinkled her nose at Dinah’s offer for assistance and shook her head barely, dark hair stirring around her shoulders as she landed on the corner of another rooftop, heavy boots surprisingly silent. The wave of red hair she had been following had seemed to have all but disappeared into the shadows and a scowl pulled at the corner of her lips. Well, unless the person took to the streets they couldn’t have gotten far. Reaching back under her cape she slipped her collapsible staff free from behind her back, gloved hand tightening around it but not extending it yet as she walked along the ledge, paying not mind to the height below. Another gust of wind had her turning her face into it and as she looked she saw the unmistakable trail of blond hair on the roof of an old church and then her eyes narrowed. One more rooftop over she caught a form in the shadows, and the Huntress moved to it, jumping down the short drop from one roof to the next, bending her knees to ease the weight and remained crouched as she gazed at the shadows in front of her waiting for it to move.
Batwoman: Each member of the loosely coined “Bat Family” brought something unique to the table, Kane brought a strong military heritage. She could almost hear the Colonel now, blasting her for not better guarding her flank. Her eyes never shifted from Canary, but her ears picked up the sound of the gravel on the roof moving, as if under the pressure of a boot, matched with an unmistakable flutter of a cape, heavy material making a distinctive sound, different from a flag or laundry left on the line. Her red lips parted, a cruel slash along her white face. Normally pale, Kane worked to make her face even less coloured as Batwoman, applying make up around the exposed lower half of her face. “Aren’t you the quiet one?” she said, her voice inquisitive as she spoke to the Huntress, still unsure of where the other woman was position exactly. She had an idea from where the sound came from, but truth be told it was a rough estimate and would do no good if the woman decided to strike. “I’m not here for a fight. I need a favour,” she said, still watching Canary carefully, waiting for them to respond to her and accept that she was not hostile before fully exposing herself. From the shadows, she would be able to arm a pellet into her gas gun before making an escape should the two become violent. Her voice had been enough to say in which shadow she hid, but not where within. She was, however, hoping that her first interaction with the notorious Birds of Prey would go better than that.
Black Canary: Dinah stood surveying from the steeple and out of the corner of her eye saw just the hint of cape, Helena. She never even heard her, she had gone silent as usual, but even her boots didn't make a sound, the woman walked about like a ghost. Canary kept looking around as if she didn't notice her partner, not wanting to give Helena's position away. Apparently her hunch there was someone watching her nearby was correct, Helena's new hunt. Then she heard the voice and looked toward the inlet of windows on the building nearby. "Whether we fight you determines on the the favour." she teased, her body fluidly going into a defensive pose as if ready to fight. "But I have a feeling you want us to help with Gotham
PD's dead ends. I take it Detective Montoya asked you for a little assistance on her case?" she asked smiling. Letting a long pause sit there for a moment, letting her wonder how she knew. "Her perfume rubbed off on you." she smirked cheekily. "You can come out if you want. I don't bite."
Huntress: Caught, but that was okay. Her gloved hand tightened on the metal staff and the sounds of it expanding seemed to echo softly, still not giving her position away. Not the most skilled fighter in the Birds of Prey being second to Dinah, the Huntress was by far the most brutal and well known for her actions and her quick temper especially when it came to protecting those who were members of the BoP or the Bat family which already landed the redhead in a bad spot. The voice of Dinah reached her, friendly and playful and generally the exact opposite of her own dark and growling tones that were often reminiscent of Batman. Not giving her position away still she watched as the shadow moved and as Dinah continued to speak to her. The Black Canary could more than handle herself, Helena knew but there were plenty of other ways to get a hold of the women than stalking them on patrols. As Canary finished speaking Helena answered from behind Batwoman, out of both arm and leg reach but close enough that it would have been easy to close the distance between the two. “I do.” Huntress added to Dinah’s biting comment but made no move forward, standing with the staff in her right hand, the end of it pressed against the rooftop.
Batwoman: Though they wouldn’t see it, Kane’s face registered a moment of confusion: how was the blonde able to determine not only that she was inquiring after a Gotham PD case, and specifically that Renee was involved? Idiot, she thought to herself. You didn’t shower before you suited up! She groaned inwardly. Such a beginner mistake, she thought to herself. During her Beast training she had been forced to go weeks without bathing in order to hide her scent, and she gets revealed because she was too eager to get suited up that she didn’t wash her lover’s perfume off before she left the house. It was all she could do not to actually smack her forehead with the palm of her face. If the Colonel would yell at her for the first mistake, this one would be unforgivable. At Huntress’ comment her brows furrowed without being seen, her smirk falling into a clearly unimpressed sneer. “Cute, but no thanks,” she said, her own tone rather deep for a woman, but lacking in the gravelly roughness that Batman and Huntress put on. “And yes, it’s a Gotham PD file. Missing kids. I got as far as I could, but I need someone who can go deeper. A mutual friend of ours,” she said, dropping all pretense or extra flowery language. Indeed, she even stepped out of the shadows her hands held at shoulder height to signal she was non aggressive. One on one, she’d have no problem with these twos, but the two of them together, and she heard that the blonde had a hell of a pair of lungs. No interest in getting involved with that. “Just need you to get me in touch with her.”
Black Canary: Black Canary just smiled as her hunch about the case was confirmed by the stranger in the shadows. It also confirmed in a round about way where the file came from and the stranger indeed was close to the Detective. The woman in the shadows cleverly didn't confirm or deny anything more, which Canary found a relief, this woman was smart and careful. Her fists suddenly clenched as she heard about missing kids, her smile fading. "It sounds like you need information that only an Oracle can give you." Her eyes widened a little and her smirk returned as she saw Batwoman step out of the shadows her posture showing her non-aggressive intent. She looked over Batwoman carefully, sizing her up. She was tall and built, much like someone who had been in the military. She smiled warmly "I was wondering when our paths would meet." she jumped down to roof level from the steeple and walked over to the edge the rooftop. Halfway there she put a hand to her earpiece and whispered to herself. She then hopped up on the ledge of the roof. "It's a case we would be glad to help with. Our friend has agreed to talk with you and would like to go over your file and your findings so far." she smiled as her blonde hair drifted about her shoulders in the night breeze going over the rooftops. "I'm sure introductions aren't necessary since we all know who each other is. But, still..." she smirked and extended her hand over the small gap seperating the buildings. "I'm Black Canary."
Huntress: The unimpressed sneer was met with a deadpanned expression as the Huntress stood watching the crimson haired woman. Batwoman. The name rang a bell, as did her actions and even though she had taken up the name and the symbol she wasn’t apart of the family and she didn’t do things like the rest. Huntress had her sized up and dismissed almost as fast as she had decided that if Canary and herself wanted to down the other woman she would have stood much of a chance. Shifting she collapsed the staff and tucked it up under her cape behind her back as the two discussed the details of the case. Not a kid lover herself she knew Dinah was and even still, something like that was sure to get her temper up. Listening in on the muttered conversation between Oracle and Canary Huntress moved forward and to the side, staying out of arms reach of the crimson haired woman but moving to align herself with Canary as the blonde came forward. Not extending her hand like the other, she inclined her head none the less in a sort of greeting. “Huntress.” She didn’t trust strangers, especially not the kind that you met on rooftops in the middle of the night, even if she was wearing the ‘family” symbol.
Batwoman: She merely watched, her eyes hidden behind white lenses in her mask. She hadn't thought that Oracle would be so easy to convince to meet her, they hadn't parted ways as friends. "Batwoman," she replied simply. As far as temperments were going, she could see she was somewhere between the two women. Her temper was foul, as she was a redhead, after all, and they were known for having fluxuating tempers as firey as their folicles. She shook Dinah's hand, her grip firm and solid, again showing the military heritage in the rigidity of her shake and the firmness of her grip. She knew that Huntress didn't trust her, which was fine. It's part of what made them all good at their jobs. She had refused Batman's invite into "Batman Incorporated," finding the whole idea of it rather... absurd. The freedom to opperate as she wished, and more importantly after Bette's not-so-accidental accident, the freedom to operate without worrying about someone else's six being covered, were worth the "non status" within the Bat Family. "I have the files, but I won't hand them over to anyone but Oracle," she said, her tone rather cold and forceful. Her eyes flitted from Huntress to Black Canary before settling on the dark haired woman, deciding if there were to be a problem, it would be from the younger of them. Youth often bred impetutiousness if it wasn't properly beaten and trained out.
Black Canary: Canary shook the firm and brief handshake with Batwoman smiling but the smile faded a bit as she heard the strong cold no non-sense tone from their new partner wanting to meet Oracle in person. Things started to quickly piece together in the blonde's mind. Although it was brief, Dinah gathered that Oracle wasn't eager to meet Batwoman, she almost refused, but at Canary's persistance to 'help the children' she allowed for them to share information, and sharing only. Apparently these two had met before and Oracle was not happy with how things had gone. She winced as she was now getting an earful about meeting was not part of the deal. Canary forced a charming smile. "As in any investigation with teams, we need to trust each other right? I could take the file to Oracle for you, I promise you I will take good care of it and will return it promptly... I'm sure you know first hand that Oracle likes her privacy and doesn't encourage visitors." In her ear Oracle was debating her rhetoric, acusing her of bending her words, which is what she was doing, but canary ignored her, charm and being politic was nearly a super power for her. "As a fellow crimefighter, you know how privacy must be kept. You can't just know the Oracle's location. If you insist... we would have to give you a sedative and transport you there." hoping that it was enough of a veiled threat of a hassle that Batwoman would decline. Oracle balking at the suggestion in her ear. She tapped her earpiece and turned it off. She kept smiling showing her good intentions. Wondering how heavy Batwoman with her gear really was. She didn't want to have to haul her halfway across Gotham if she had to.
Huntress: Damn she wished she would have done more homework, there wasn’t much she could recall from what she had read about Batwoman, but there was enough in presence to get the fact that she was rigid, and obviously didn’t play well with others. Well that’d either be a point of friendship for them, or a point of someone coming out with a few fractures and bruises at the end of the day. Still watching the exchange closely an incredulous look came over her face at the red-heads demand and those blue eyes spit fire as the gaze was turned to her. “Like hell.” Huntress
said simply. Seriously? Did she really think she was going to meet them then get taken to see Oracle, at their base camp? Listening to the back and forth of Oracle and Canary a headache began to develop behind her eyes and she resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose to ease the tension there. “She doesn’t like visitors, hell she doesn’t like us there half of the time, so as Canary said, either hand over the files or it’d be my pleasure to sedate you.” Unlike Batman, Huntress wasn’t afraid to smile to which she did, flashing those pearly white teeth in a shark like grin. “You came to us lady, you either follow our rules or you figure it out on your own.” People weren’t her strong point, especially not other women in their line of work. It had taken her forever to get to -tolerate- the blond at her side now who would no doubt be giving her a dirty look for messing up her more polite and diplomatic approach. Oracle shouting in her ear wasn’t doing much to make her sound any nicer.
Batwoman: "She seems to have misunderstood me," she said, her voice rather cold and harsh as she narrowed her eyes. "It is not a term up for debate. Our history before she became Oracle notwithstanding, this is not a matter for her to be prideful or bitter," Kate had a hard time stopping herself, and almost litterally had to bite her tongue in order to keep more from coming out. She looked impassively to Helena, she seemed brash, abbrasive and overly aggressive; if only she had darker skin Kate might have found her incredibly attractive. Straigtening her stance, Kane again reitterated the terms of her deal. "No sedation. No blind folds. And you can tell our friend that I still know where she keeps her spare keys; I'm only asking out of courtesy," and with that, Kane put on a menacing grin, perhaps given the circumstances and Barbara's own history with uninvited guests, would be more so than the one Huntress was trying to use to intimidate her. At one point, a life time ago, Kane and Gordon had worked together, trusted each other enough to even let each other into their lives beyond the mask. But, of course, as was the way with all things, there were points where the two simply did not see eye to eye. Batgirl, as far as Kane was concerned, had never had the stomach to do what was necessary.
Black Canary: A dirty look was shared with the Huntress as she verbally stood up for the Bird of Prey. Helena had a short patience for people not playing nicely and the Batwoman did not back down, like a headstrong sergent. She frowned at Huntress' too eager readyness to bring Batwoman down. Dinah winced a little at Batwomans words. She wasn't backing down or willing to negotiate, she truely was a member of the bat family in her own way. She thought about all the times with the dark knight himself where she had to 'persuade' him to change his mind, which was harder than taking out a wall with her canary cry. She tapped her earpiece again and was greeted by Oracle's not so happy response to being cut off. She sighed and her jaw squrared a little as she clenched her teeth getting quickly tired of being caught in the middle of the other three. "Now listen here all of you." her own tone losing it's friendlyness, sounding like a mother not happy with how her children were behaving. "I have no idea what happened in the past and to be honest I don't care. Batwoman, you came to us with good intent asking for help. Not being willing to negotiate at all is not the strength of a commander, it is a weakness. Some of the best battles were fought in negotiations without any blood being drawn." her tone firm. "Stand down." she turned to the Helena. "Your support is appreciated Huntress and I'm glad you will stand up for me and Oracle, but you will have to let someone new into our fold here, whether you like it or not." she looked into the distance as she addressed Barbara. "And as for you Oracle. There are kids at stake here, I don't want to be witness to the measuring contenst you have here with me stuck in the middle. As we speak who knows what is happening to those children. I am taking responbility here, I am taking Batwoman with us to meet you. I will take you both down myself if you two can't play nice. If something happens I will take full blame. Now all of you grow up." The expression she had could melt stone and after a pause she let out a breath. "Not that is taken care of, can I give you a lift?" she smirked at Batwoman.
Huntress: The same left as soon as it came as her temper sparked to life and she took a step forward towards Batwoman, intent clear that she was more than willing to take the statement the red-head said and turn it into a fight. After all, it felt a little too threatening for her tastes. Then of course, Dinah had to step in on a tirade that Helena only half listened to, until she heard her name. Flicking her blue eyes to the blond she rose a brow behind her mask then her gaze narrowed sharply into a bat glare. “You want to work with this bitch who obviously is going to bully her way into information and our base and be okay with that, then that’s on you and Oracle.” Huntress snapped at her, she wasn’t one for taking orders, and she wasn’t one for being lectured at. “When things get screwed up because you trusted the wrong person that’s on you.” A finger was jabbed sharply against Canary’s shoulder and turned, pulling her grappling gun from her belt. “I’m going on patrol, you babysit -that- all on your own.” And with a sharp pop, she leapt off of the roof and was pulled away, turning off her ear piece in her mask. Like hell she was going to back down and just “accept” some hotheaded fake bat.
Batwoman: She was a little dumbfounded at first with the lambasting she took from the Black Canary, but as the blonde moved on, addressing Huntress and Oracle in much the same manner, a smirk came across her lips. It was rare for Kane to assume the posture so common in the Batfamily, shoulders rolled forward so as to hide within one's cape, and even now, she remained in a proud stance, shoulders back and chest pushed out, as if it full attention. By the time the rant was finished, she had retired to a parade stance, her feet shoulders' width apart, her hands clasped behind her back but back and shoulders till straight and squared. She couldn't help but let out a chuckle at Helena's actions. "Cute."As the blonde asked if Kate needed a lift, she smirked again, sorely tempted to accept the blonde bombshell's offer for a lift, though she was certain if Renee saw it on the police security cams there would be hell to pay. She had decided when she put the mask on, aside from Renee, she wouldn't let her sexuality out of the bag as Batwmoan, it would make it too easy to connect Batwoman to Kate Kane. She would simply play off as asexual, allowing the media to assume she was the straight girlfriend/former girlfriend of the Batman, it was only within the Bat Family she was seen as an outsider, as a "non member." Kate was fine with that. "I'm parked around the corner," she said casually.
Black Canary: Black Canary's muscles flexed, almost on reflex as the Huntress jabbed her finger. She sighed as the hotheaded woman flew off into the night. She would probably cool off and join them later. If not, it might be her turn to buy coffee for her. She gave a quizzical glance at Batwoman as she smirked and then chuckled at them. Did she think this was a game? It was her neck on the line if things didn't go well with Oracle, she hoped she was aware of that. She did have to smirk when her offer for a ride was called cute. "alright your choice. I'll meet you in the alley off Grove. See you in a bit." with that she dashed off into the night soon flipping down off a fire escape down to her bike. She mounted it and rode off soon meeting Batwoman on her own bike. As soon as she saw her Black Canary sped off at breakneck speed, whizzing through traffic as if racing her, her blue eyes sparkling in the excitment and thrill of the ride. Taking them to the secret alley entrance to the old clock tower that was Oracle's base of operations.
Batwoman: She shook her head and took off in her own way down to where the Duke was parked. Theh ignition key turned without imedpiment and she felt the motor roar to life, the vibrations travelling through the steel alloy frame and carbon fiber panels, even through the padded and armoured suit. The look Canary had given her was one of mild disgust, which lead Kate to believe that Barb had been more than just coy about her life as Batgirl, before officially becoming part of the Batfamily. Kane would admit, there was a bit of bitterness there in the way that Barb had sold her out so easily, then again, if Kane was going to be honest with herself, she hadn't really given Gordon many options. There was hurt on both sides of this story, but right now none of it mattered, and Black Canary was right, neither Kane's ego, nor Gordon's, or even Huntress' ego, mattered; there were lives at stake, the lives of children no less, and if that meant she had to be the mature one, again, then so be it. The Ducatti caught up with Canary's cruiser style motorcycle quick enough, and was able to follow her effortlessly. Kate found a positive comment in the pleasant view, noting to herself she should offer to follow Canary again sometime.
Act 1, Scene 3
Black Canary: Black Canary enjoyed the exhilerating ride, happy to see that Batwoman followed her like a shadow. The woman did have skills. She parked her bike in the base of the clock tower. "You can take the elevator if you want." she gestured to lift on the far side of room. "Or you can take the express route." she had gone over to a rope and twisted it about her ankle like a circus performer grabbing on to it with one hand, offering her hand to the taller woman. If taken she would tug on the rope and they would soar up to the platform of the clocks inner workings a nice apartment built between the gears. Facing a two way mirror was the large clock face and seated in a wheel chair facing it surrounded with a computer that would boast batman's was the Oracle herself. "Hey Oracle." she smiled. "Sorry about earlier, ready to work?" Barbara turned about and could help but give a little smile at the birds casual kindness. She gave Kate a cool look and shrugged, nodding. "What do you got?"
Batwoman: She smirked, accepting the hand, even though she didn't really need it. There were sometimes when it was better to feign requiring assistance, isn't that what they taught straight girls these days? Never mind all of that, she thought to herself. Renee would be less than pleased to find her flirting with one of the scantily clad heroes of Gotham, but really, how could Kate be to blame? There were many intricacies to their relationship, not the least of which was the fact that Renee was still deep within the closet, but here was neither the time nor the place to be thinking about these kinds of things. When they were at the top of the ride, Kate let of of Dinah and turned to look at Barb. "Long time no see," she said bluntly, her right hand reaching behind her back for the consealed documents. "Missing kids. Eight so far. All from the Narrows; some are from lower income or single parent families, a few are wards of the State. In every case they disappeared during the hours they should have been at school. Five girls, three boys. Ages range from seven to thirteen. Two caucasian, three black, one asian and two latino. So far the only connection I've been able to come across is that they all lived in the Narrows and were poor. I need more." She dropped the file in Barb's lap.
Black Canary: She took Batwoman's hand and guided it to wrap about her while she drew the red haired woman close, pressing into her snuggly, her free hand resting on the small of Kate's back as they soared up to the top of the tower. The Oracle rolled her eyes at Batwoman's comment as the file was dropped into her lap, opening it up and looking it over as Batwoman gave her a summary. Dinah rested against Barb's chair looking over her shoulder. "Very different children in similar circumstances. I take it they don't go to the same school or hangout at the same mall or something?" Barbara gnawed on one of her fingers as she looked at the data and then started to go through databases on her computer accessing different networks. "Hmm... checkng to see if they visit the same chat rooms and share IM lists." Dinah fidgited a little as the oracle did her computer magic, to be honest she had a basic understanding of computer and that was good enough for her, it might as well have been Zatanna performing spells in her mind. The blonde's mind obviously preoccupied about the children, starting to scowl as she thought about the scum that had been doing the kidnapping.
Batwoman: Leaned over Barb's shoulder, watching the screen carefully. "Not that I was able to find, but to be honest, I don't really know what's going on inside the head of a preteen these days," she muttered. "I'm not even sure I ever knew." When she was the age most of these kids were she lost her mother and her twin sister, two of the most important people in her life. Kate had always been the tough one, ready to fight and defend Liz, the softer, more reasonable twin, whow as able to sweet talk Kate out of trouble nine times out of ten. She watched as Barb worked her computer magic, a small smirk pulling on her lips. She had forgotten how good the other red head was at this. "You always were better with the research than you were in the field," she commented, meaning it as a compliment, but realizing soon as the words left her lips that it was easily misconstruded as a back handed one.
Black Canary: The oracle was quicly hacking into a school district server and was finding the accounts of the missing students. On several screens each student's computer history was being run through an algortithmatic tool, looking for similar sites and ip address they had been in contact with, while another was algorthim brought up their crimincal and medical records adding their data to the search. The scrolling text was reflected in Barbara's glasses. As she heard Batwoman's comment she glared at her over the rims of her glasses. "This will take me awhile. Why don't you two head out for a bit." she said cooly, it obvious she didn't like them looking over her shoulder and less than wild about Kate's presence. Dinah nodded her blond hair bobbing. "There's an ice cream parlor across the street. Do you like Rocky Road?" she smirked.
ACt 2; Scene 1
Batwoman: The meeting with the Birds had gone better than she had thought; her former partner's little pit bulls weren't as big on bite as the younger woman's last set. The Marine scrub out had returned to her apartment, working things on her own end. She didn't know anything more than the files gave her: numerous children of all races and ethnic make ups, all coming out of the same poor neighbourhood, but that wasn't exactly news. Crime had been targeting poor children for years. Something about this was different. She wasn't arrogant enough to call herself a "detective," that was for Renee and the big guy to do; Kate was a soldier, and sometimes the hardest part of that job was waiting for the detectives to do their job and give her a target. Beside her, her cellphone went off. A slender hand outstretched to take a look at the caller ID: Renee. Somewhere between annoyance and anticipation was where Kate usually fell when it came to a phone call from her heavily closeted girlfriend. "Did you talk to your friends?" "Yes. They're on it." "Which ones?" Kate rolled her eyes; she had a feeling that Gotham's finest would be happier knowing the big guy was on the case, what with his relationship with Gordon and all that. "Not the big guy." "Who?" "You expect me to tell you that?" "You tell me everything." "You'd be surprised." "What do you mean?"
Kate took a deep breath, putting her head in her hands and putting pressure on the bridge of her nose to stem the migrane that came from a fight with Renee, and this was lining up to be just that. "Look, I'm waiting, okay? We aren't miracle workers, you know how long these things can take." "I know." The phone went dead for a minute. "I love you, Katie bug..." Renee's voice was soft, letting the redhead know she was sorry for being impatient and snapping. "I know," she replied, taking a deep sigh, green eyes closed. There was a pregnant pause before Kate returned the affection: "I love you too." She hung up the phone with a groan, wondering what did she think she was doing. After turning down Batman's offer to join Batman Inc in favour of a position where she got endless fun toys, she was seeking assistance from the Ultimate teacher's pet. "Speak of the devil," she grumbled, hearing a positive beep from her computer. Kane lifted her head to see the blinking logo in the bottom of her screen: Barbara had found something. Picking up her cowl with one hand Kate made her way to her Duke and headed towards the clock tower. When she pulled up, finding an adequate cover spot for her bike, Kate used her grappling hook in much the same manner as Dinah had brought her into the building the previous evening. There were somethings she did more like the big guy, and somethings she wasn't as on point with, the sudden appearing and disappearing, she had that. Letting herself in through one of the cut outs for the bells, she dropped down in the centre of Barbara's computer lab.
Black Canary: Reclined on a couch Black Canary is resting with her her arms folded behind her head. one hand slides out to wave as she sees the Batwoman fly up on of the cutouts for the bells. "Hey, you're pretty fast. I expected you in another minute. We need to race sometime and see how fast you really are." she grinned. The oracle smirked at canary and rolled her eyes,giving a cool look to the Batwoman, but apparently was trying to play nice as she forced a smile. "We have more pressing things at the moment.... here take a look at this." she pulled up some things on to her largest display and Dinah slid on to her boots and walked over. Barbara was showing several chatroom posts and medical records of the kids families. "They have two things in common. One they are all kids to junkies and drug addicts, some of their parents are addicts to perscription drugs, so all kinds of different demographics. And the second thing they have in common is that they are all seeking help. They all go to this Gotham Family Support group Chat room. And although they don't all chat with each other, they all seem to talk to the same person." she made a few clicks. "friendlydude2013." Dinah made a huffing sound and her fists balled up. "Seriously? some unfriendly friendly dude is preying on children seeking help?" she says with a little tone creeping into her voice.
Huntress: For once in her life, Helena was on the exact same wave length as Barbara, and she wasn’t sure that made things any better. Butting heads in the group was kind of her forte and most of the time it was against the other two older females, to which she ignored them and did her own thing anyway but now they had to add yet someone else to the volatile mix. Huntress sat on the far end of the couch from Canary and was outright refusing to speak with her. That temper was flared up still and shown clearly in her blue eyes behind her mask and her lips were pulled down into a scowl. “You know, I’m so glad Canary just let’s some high and mighty flame headed, bitch just bully her way here. And then took her out for icecream. Oh yeah I’m sure that really won her on over.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice as she shoved off from the couch and started pacing. This is why she hated working with women, they were soft and Dinah was all too ready to play the bubble headed hostess to someone just because she wore the right emblem. If she had been working with Batman he’d have stopped Batwoman in her tracks, taken her down a few pegs then would have allowed her to be on the case as well while he worked it. But no, oh no. Dinah had to take her out for ICECREAM. Reaching up Helena shoved her fingers through her dark hair then leaned against the far side of Oracle’s desk as said flame headed bitch appeared and Dinah jumped up like an excited puppy to greet her. Helena rolled her eyes then read over Barbara’s shoulder as she spoke. Just because she didn’t like what was going on here didn’t mean she wouldn’t do her job.
Batwoman: "The 'flame headed bitch,' has been around longer than you, kiddo, and she has excellent hearing," Kate muttered, rising from her crouch in the middle of the space to stand over Barb's shoulder. With a common enemy it was easy for the two redheads to focus, they had done it before when they worked together, even though it ended ... badly... To put it nice. An all too familiar hand reached out, resting on Barbara's shoulder out of habbit before Kate realized what she was doing and removed theh and, instead letting it hide inside her cape. She drew a slow breath, the exhale coming out somewhere between a grunt and a growl. The fact that someone was targeting children was bad enough, but children who were trying to get help? Well that was something dark, even by Gotham's high standards. "We need to get someone into the room," she said definitively. "Barbara, what's the oldest age these chat rooms allow?" She turned to Dinah and Helena. "The blonde Batgirl... is she still active?" She had lost track of most of the Bat-family; she worked on opposite ends of the spectrum from most of them. While they were dealing with lunatics she was dealing with fanatics; they dealt with gangs, she dealt with cults. They lived in the shadows, she danced with the things that went bump in the night. "She looked rather young for her age, if I remember correctly." Her brows would furrow unseen by the other three women, though undoutbedly Barbara would be able to see where Kate was going with this. She wanted to get Stephanie Brown, Batgirl III, aka Spoiler, into the chat room and then set her up as bait. Kane would rather not have to rely on such things, ie: other people, but sometimes you do what you have to in order to get the job done.
Black Canary: Dinah saw the grumpy posture and looks that Helena was giving her and Batwoman and gave her a little bit of a look back, then smirked. "You're still not a grumpy pants that we went out to ice cream without you are you? I did bring some back for you, chocolate caramel cashew, it's in the freezer." Barbara clicked on a couple things on her computer to show the help site's entry information. "The age limit is 16." As the second question was asked she looked at Dinah knowingly. Dinah nodded as Stephanie was brought up although her face had a grim look to it, she already could see where this was already going and didn't like it. But she knew they didn't have much choice, and it would be safer to have someone who could defend themselves and had an earpiece to call for help. "Yeah, she is. I have worked with her on a couple cases and we train weekly. She could do the job, and she would be eager to help. But it's too risky. I don't want to hang her out there like fresh bait." she says, obviously caring about the young hero. She pulled a cellphone discritely out of her suit. "What does everyone else think? Should I call her?"
Huntress: The flat look that Helena gave Dinah had a clear message of something that would have gotten her cuffed upside the head by Barbara if she were in reach, and had said the words aloud. The fact that Batwoman heard her? She gave no shits. None at all. The information didn’t have the same effect on her as it did Dinah, outwardly her expression didn’t change and neither did her posture, but inwardly, well…the Black Canary better hope she got to the ringleader before Huntress and her crossbow did. Pushing herself up straight at the mention of yet bringing someone else in on this her gaze shifted to Dinah then away as she produced a cell phone from god knows where. “Gross.” She muttered under her breath and was reminded to never borrow Dinah’s phone. Even if the blonde haired Batgirl wasn’t 16, she sure as hell looked it and could play the part no problem, though she never did ask her her age. As Canary asked what everyone thought about bringing yet another person onto the case she said nothing, it wasn’t like it would matter. It seemed more like Dinah was jumping through hoops to please the new guest with their great “teamwork” than actually caring about who she involved. The decision would be made regardless. Leaning back down she spoke to Barbara. “You can’t just trace the IP of that screen name? It might be bounced around but it wouldn’t be anything you couldn’t handle.” God, she’d said anything, even a compliment to the redhead if it meant getting this case over and done with.
Batwoman: "She's more capable than you guys think," she said, her voice sounding slightly distracted while her eyes remained on the screens, still scanning them. Leaning over Barbara's shoulder and directing her to click on some fo the missing children's profiles. She was a firm believer in the "trial by fire" method, and that no one will ever live up to their true potential if they're coddled and babied. She raised an eyebrow at Huntress and shook her head. "Montoya's files present the case that this is a mutlinational organization; we might find a single port of call for these sickos, and if we jump while the kids are in transition, they'll just abandon them and leave them to die from dehydration and starvation," her voice was rather cold, her stern expression matching Huntress' as she stood up. "Make the call," she said to Dinah before turning to the dark haired woman. "You're going to shadow her; the kid. I've never seen someone move like you do. You'll be able to get around without being heard or seen; I want you to keep eyes on her, but don't interfere." Huntress may have not been the best person for Kate's attitude. When she was at West Point, Kate had been a Cadet Commander, meaning she was in charge of her particular group of Cadets. Used to giving out orders and expecting them to be obeyed, she rarely left room for arguements or deviation from her plan. It got her into trouble with Renee from time to time, and unbeknownst to Kane at the current moment, it was likely to get her into even more trouble with Huntress.
Black Canary: As Helena gave her a flat look that answered her thoughts about batwoman and involving her in this case, she tilted her a head with a look that says 'watch it' back to the Huntress. Dinah nodded hearing Barbara and Batwoman. "Oh, I know she is quite capable." she frowned. "I just don't like the situation for her first solo assignment." her look releaxed a little as she heard Kate's plan on having Helena shadow Steph. She would be able to follow and trail better than anyone she knew. Although it being Batwoman's idea she didn't know how that would go over. "You are the best canidate for this one Huntress." she said, a slight pleading look in her eyes as she opened her phone. "I'll call her." she dialed the number and waited. ( Barbara nodded and gave a begrudging look. "Yes, just from my side, it appears that someone is doing through many servers and hiding their trail well, I could track it down, but as Batwoman said, someone with those ties are probably part of a bigger operation and to take the whole business down, we will need someone inside."
Huntress: The look from Dinah was ignored, as she continued to listen to the other women speak, standing back straight again. Her gloved covered hands moved to her hips as Kane finally turned and spoke to her directly and a dark unseen brow rose behind her mask at the order she was given to her of all people. The compliment eased her somewhat, simple for the fact the woman wasn’t trying to speak down to her but the order still made her skin crawl and smirk twist her lips. Fingers drummed against her hips and she tipped her head to the side. “Try that again, this time, why don’t you make it a request. I don’t work for you, I don’t know you and I sure as hell won’t listen to an order from you. Canary might be more than willing to wag her tail and accept you into the “club” just to make sure things go smoother, but I don’t roll over and play nice with someone who pushes their way into things. I don’t care what symbol you wear.” Batman himself would have been met with the same obstinate streak, the same cold blue eyes that matched his own and they had nearly come to blows several times because of it but she never backed down, not to anyone. Though the truth was, she knew Batgirl was capable, but she also knew that the blond had a knack of getting in over her head at times and she was glad to be the one trailing her. At Dinah’s words and look and just gave a simple nod, she knew how the Canary was attached, and damn it if she wasn’t a bit soft towards the Sonic Siren and her emotional side.
Act 2, Scene 2
Spoiler: Crystal was sawing logs again, laying on the couch, face down and drooling, dead to the world, as so many times in the past, but this time, Stephanie knelt by the couch stroking her mother’s hair from her face. This time, it was just exhaustion, the long hours of work, caring, this time it was not the drug addled haze she had seen growing up, this was mom with a purpose, mom doing good, mom understanding how necessary she was, how necessary they both were and that despite everything Arthur had been, THEY, the two of them mattered in a way that for all his ambition, Arthur never could. She stroked her mother’s hair behind her ear and gently kissed her forehead, speaking quietly “Those days are gone mom, the old us... dead and gone.” When her phone rang she leapt on her bag to prevent it disturbing Crystal and, covering the speaker with her hands, sidled into the hallway, the birdsong ringtone, it made her blush to think how obvious she had been when assigning ringtones, but her heart was racing, if the canary was calling, it was something else that mattered too, and almost whispering to save her mother. “Hello? Canary?”
Batwoman: She couldn't help but smirk; oh, she liked this one. The attitude was a bit much, but there were similarities in the stubbornness that, while she would never admit to openly, Kate respected. "It's good you don't care what symbol I wear," she said, standing with her shoulders squared, rather than the "typical Bat" position, shoulders hunched forward to hide within their capes. Her chin was held high as she looked down, just a little, on the woman. "I respect your stance, but now isn't the time to be asking for "pleases" and "thank yous." You can decline or you can accept," she said flatly, her voice neither rude nor polite but neutral, showing her military roots in the basic language of either accepting an order or denying it. With a flash of black and red from her cape flipping as she turned Kate was leaning over Barbara's shoulder. "Can you set up an account for her? Something that you can ghost on from here?" She slipped into a bit of technical jargon, talking about getting into "friendlydude"'s computer through any backdoors. The posture, the familiarity and the ease at which she was allowed to invade Barbara's personal space might lead the others to believe that there was a history between the two redheads, even though Kane would seemingly, almost reflexively, correct herself moments after making a familiar move, such as the hand on Oracle's shoulder, or leaning over to move the mouse under her hand; simple gestures that showed at one point in history, the two worked rather close together.
Black Canary: Dinah hid her cringe as she saw the huntress' feathers ruffle and she pushed back at the command she was given, even though it did make sense. Her fingers twitched as she tried her best to ignorethe dog references to herself while she tried to get everyone working on the same page. As her eyes met with Helenas ans saw the slifght nod, she knew she would shadow steph for her, she gave a hint of a smile. "Hey Spoiler, the birds of prey need your help on an investigation we are are working on regarding the disappearances of some of your fellow students. Would you be willing to do some undercover work so we can bust this smuggiling ring? It will require being on a help chat room for kids with drug abusing parents, using an account we set up for you. Then you have to meet and get kidnapped by the smugglers, while we trace and shadow you. We will back you up on this. Is it something you would be interested in?
Huntress: Kane was ignored, she didn’t give a damn about what she was saying really and she hadn’t decided to do it for her. The fact that Dinah gave a slight smile seemed to be enough for her. She shifted and sat on the edge of Oracle’s desk to listen to Dinah as she spoke, eyes closing for a moment. Of course Steph would be interested, she wasn’t one to turn down an assignment. That thought struck her momentarily funny as she tuned out the two redheads speaking to continue to listen to Dinah. Opening her eyes again she rolled her shoulders then stood, walking away from them to check out what Dinah left her in the freezer. Chatting about plans wasn’t really her thing, and she was getting antsy for action.
Spoiler: Spoiler? Batgirl! It kind of stung a little, it was taking time for them to accept she wasn’t just Spoiler anymore, Cass had given the cowl to her. It was Hers now, no matter what. Tim didn’t want to see her as Spoiler, fine, Spoiler no more. The sting past instantly though when it became clear Canary wanted to involve her, to involve her in stopping something beyond the low key shenanigans Tim would have tolerated.“Would I?” Hell ,YES!” She winced a bit at her own voice leaning back to check she hadn’t disturbed Crystal, a snort, slight shuffle and then a return to the wet snoring. “Of course I do. How? Where? Why? Who?” She couldn’t help the excitement that was rising, even if the cover included something, something she knew too well, something they had faced down. “Where do you need me?”
Batwoman: She slid a piece of paper from Barbara over to Dinah with a username and password written on it. "Let her know we'll be able to track everything she says and every person who contacts her," Kate's voice still had the crispness of her military heritage to it. She realized she was assuming Stephanie had said yes, though from the way the other three women were going about, it was starting to sound like asking was a formality, that Batgirl would be acceping of orders in a way -her- Batgirl never was. "Before she goes to the meet, we'll have to make contact. I have a tracer she can wear that won't be suspect," she said, producing a small, heart shaped hair clip from her pocket. It had actually come out of the evidence packet Renee had given her, and Kate had installed a small gps tracker in the plastic barrette. It seemed rather awkward in her black gloved hand, between the three costumed vigilantes and Barbara.
Black Canary: As they all chatted she noticed Helena slip off the desk and head toward the kitchen, she smirked guessing what she was going for. As soon as she said it, Dinah realized she used the wrong name. She had worked with steph so long and when they were alone together she called her steph, guess she was still getting used to the new batgirl's title too. She pulled the phone away from her ear as she got the excited resposne. "hehe, calm down Batgirl." she laughed. She nodded as she was handed a sheet of paper and glanced over it and then saw the tracker barrette, she smirked at how cute and girly it looked. "I have some information I need to give you so you can enter the chatroom and get started. I can be on call if you need help, but I think you can wing it. I also have a tracer barette you can wear after you make contact and meet up with their contact. And by then we will all be in position. You will get a flower delivery to your house tomorrow, it will all be part of the boquet." she paused and said in a softer tone. "Thanks again for doing this Batgirl, I appreciate it."
Huntress: Digging around in the freezer Helena found her prize then was forced to look for a spoon. She mulled over the fact that they had to bring yet another person into this again, and tried not to be irritated over it. The bigger the operation, the more players, the more likely it was to fail. But, she was glad Batgirl was getting a chance to show her stuff. Shoving a spoon full of icecream into her mouth she walked back out to the others as Dinah wrapped up the conversation with Steph, her eyes glanced to the heart and she smirked. “Cute.” It was said with a sarcastic undertone as she took another bite, stopping just out of arms length from Dinah incase she got the idea to try and steal a bite.
Spoiler: It was as much as she could do not to squee, ‘She called me Batgirl! AND she thinks I can wing it. OMG! a tracer!’ She found her feet suddenly restless wanting to do a little dance but contenting herself with a tiny jog on the spot “This is SO cool! What do I do now?”
Batwoman: Her eyes looked up at the ice cream and then to Helena's face. "You missed your mouth already," Kate responded drly as the dark haired woman began stuffing her face with ice cream. "I think this is good for tonight, ladies," she said with a sigh. It was late... even for her. The last time she had slept had been two days ago, when Renee first handed her the file. Since then she'd been going all out trying to find leads for Barbara to exploit and dealing with the Sugar and Spice girls Babs was hanging with these days. As dramaticly as she had arrived, Kate simply stepped up to the cut out and, after a quick check out of the drop, she turned to the three inside. "Barbara, you're looking good," she said with a small smirk and a nod. Without further ado, Kate dropped out of the line of sight. Somewhere before hitting the pavement she fired her grappling hook and swung over several blocks where she had left her bike. "Pretty easy night," she thought to herself. She might even had a chance to meet up with Renee if she was lucky.
Black Canary: "Dinah smiled on the phone as she watched helena come back in with a mouthful of ice cream. It did look good. But Helena was out of range without it looking obvious that she was going to steal a bite, scamp. She laughed as she heard the excitement in Steph's voice. "Next? you get some sleep. Or at least try to." she teased. "Good night batgirl." she looked up to hear Batwoman winding things down for the night, she nodded. "Sounds good, you get some reest too." she smiled. Barbara's eye brows went up at the compliment not sure how to take it. "Thanks. See ya." she said giving a small smirk. Dinah waved as Batwoman walked over and dropped through the opening in the floor. Dinah walked over to Helena. "You know I got you a large ice cream, you were planning on sharing that right?" she smirked sidling up to her as the Batwoman left the clocktower.
Huntress: It seemed Helena’s normal response to Kane was to ignore her, which she did currently as she happily shoved another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. Glancing at the clock at the mention of things being good for the evening she tipped her head, damn it was late. Turning her blue eyed gaze back to Dinah as she moved over she narrowed her eyes slightly. “You had ice cream already.” Helena pointed out to her and then an idea came to mind. “But you know, you’re right. Sharing is caring. So me, and my large icecream are going home to see if whatever man is in my apartment when I get there wants some. I need a good workout before I sleep anyway.” She gave Dinah’s arm a pat as she shoved the spoon down into the icecream and walked to the drop off. “You don’t look good, Barb, she was lying. You should actually sleep.” With a grin Helena stepped off the edge, the sound of her grappling gun popping being the last thing heard from her.
Spoiler: When Canary hung up, Stephanie held the phone to her chest a moment before beginning a small celebratory dance “Batgirrrrl, Batgirl!” little more than a whisper, she paused a moment to check again she’d not woken mom… Crystal,… mom… finally she was becoming mom again and not the burden that had been Crystal. Stephanie returned to her room, and threw herself on her back on her bed. “Boo-yah” even though it was a little scary. -e-
Act 2; Scene 3
Batwoman: Barbara had set up Batgirl with everything she needed, including a fake name to protect her family. She was Jamie Lynn Dollard, and her mother was addicted to prescription painkillers and booze. The grade 9 student had been held back a year because of absences taken on by the need to take care of her mother. A little research and Kate had found out just how close to home this had hit for the young woman, wishing Barbara had been more sensative. Sometimes, Kate would remember, Gordon would forget that not everyone had a happy childhood as she did. Not everyone was lucky enough to have fathers as loving as thier's were, and not everyone was as lucky as Barbara to have to go outside their own lives to find horror and hardship. Kate sighed, sitting at her own terminal in her condo, sipping at a cup of ice cold black coffee that was possibly a day old, maybe even three, waiting for the light to blink that Batgirl had logged on. She could see through the rooms external roster that "FriendlyDude2013" was already in the Stretaline abuse room.
Spoiler: Reading through the message, the background, the ‘role’, was hard. Not the role itself, that was no stretch, no challenge, she remembered like yesterday, so vivid that several times Stephanie found herself pausing to compose her thoughts. “This is why they wanted me?” it was good to be working with the Black Canary again, and Batwoman, but… Oracle, somehow Oracle was always there, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of she was being observed, minutely, like a bug. She wondered if this too was a test, or a casual cruelty. Whatever, there was a job to be done, one perhaps amongst all of them she was uniquely qualified to do. Stephanie went then back to the hallway,peeping carefully into the lounge at her mother, curled up on the couch, feet tucked underneath her, cosseting a hot chocolate as she laughed and something ridiculous on the TV. ‘Those days are gone… we’re not who we were… use that to do what you have to.’ She stood a moment longer before returning to her room, closing the door behind her to play the role. She sat a moment, logged in lostandlonelyf_98… Oracle could sure pick them couldn’t she, enetered the room… the target was there. “Ok friendlydude, I guess this is it”
Batwoman: She would send Stephanie a message, a small flag that would pop up on the corner of Stephanie's screen letting her know someone else had access to her terminal as well. - We're monitoring the room. You -can- do this; you're tougher than you think. - Signing it "the Redbat," to keep things simple. Within moments of Stephanie logging on, Friendly Dude would send her a message. - Hey - It was simple, Batwoman thought, but really, what did anyone expect? The man was a creep, not an idiot. He would take his time maniuplating his marks, earning their trust before he struck. Her phone vibrated, a text from Renee. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes; she was starting to get the feeling that Renee came to her for only two things these days. She hadn't pushed about coming out of the closet in a while, maybe she should. At least she would get a few minutes of peace. She looked at the text, about the case, naturally, and tried not to get upset. She sent back a one word message, "Working" and set the phone down, coing back to watch.
Spoiler: The message from the Redbat was calming, she could, she could do this after all, another of the Family had faith in her, she wasn’t about to let her or Black Canary down. And Oracle? Oracle just hadn’t seen her moves. She cracked her knuckles. ‘OK lets do it.’
lostandlonelyf_98: Umm? Hello?
Silence in the room.
bigguy4u: Hey there lil one, asl?
“Oh, get lost!” She closed the PM window down in an instant. “Just my luck.. the wrong creep.”
Batwoman: FriendlyDude2013: hey. wanna chat?
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: Umm
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: hi i guess
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: u dont have 2. my mom iz addicted to perks 2. we r gunna loze the house.
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: oh hell, that sux mine 2 think we can stay but feel trapped u no
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: i no what u mean. i found this group @ a church near my house. they r pretty kool. lots of kids with the same issues. helps, u no?
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: rly? *Stephanie winced uggh this txt speak is so lame
lostandlonelyf_98: I don’t know, cant tlk to the kids at school
lostandlonelyf_98: alreddy think I’m a dummy for being held back a year
lostandlonelyf_98: cant talk to nun of them
lostandlonelyf_98: im saying 2 much arnt ?
friendlydude2013: no! not @ all. yea, skool sux.
friendlydude2013: u should cum 2 the group sometime.
friendlydude2013: even if they dont help, theres normally hot food. pizza n shit
Batwoman: - You're doing great, kiddo - the Redbat. Kate was grinding her teeth, wondering just whow as on the other end of this conversation and how many other kids he was talking to and grooming. Her gut had been right; while he was talking with Steph, Kane had hacked through and found his location: Berlin, though the signal was routed through two Russian servers, one in Tehran and a fourth in Montreal before finally being put through a local Gotham IP address. She brought her hand to her face, squeezing the bridge of her nose. She sent a text to Oracle, letting her know they might need Huntress shortly.
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: don think I wanna eat shit LOL but the pizza sounds good unless its anchuvvy Gack!
Stephanie rolled her eyes, this was painful, she sure hoped Redbat and Oracle were appreciating this.
[lostandlonelyf_98: dunno kinda scared of meeting people I dunno, people can be kinda creepy, u no where you @?[/font]
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: harbor st. sth of arkham's og place.
friendlydude2013: naw its norm pepperonies tastes lik card board but itz free right lol!
friendlydude2013: where u @
Batwoman: She tried to hide the smile; Stephanie was doing amazing, she thought to herself. She reached for the stale coffee again, sipping it without even noticing, eyes transfixed on her screen.
Spoiler: ‘Oh g_d, right they didn’t give me a cover location and I’ll be damned if I’m leading anyone near mom, near Tim no, make it somewhere more pitiful, come on think, and don’t make it easy. Easy will scare him off. If he asks again.. say The Narrows’
lostandlonelyf_98: sheeyuh like I’m gonna just say that, momma didn raise a dummy
lostandlonelyf_98: well she didn do any raisin @ all
lostandlonelyf_98: ure not just tryin to get me somewhere and do things? like on that predator show?
lostandlonelyf_98: whats teh name of that church?
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: no. its st barts on 2nd. the 1 next 2 teh old pig stye (police station- BW) that burnd during that shyt wit batman 5 years ago.
friendlydude2013: i didnt wannaa skare u.
friendlydude2013: im sorry. u seem really nice.
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: im sry, u just hear about so many creeps online
lostandlonelyf_98: u need to be careful never no if some1 is an axe murder or something
lostandlonelyf_98: lol
lostandlonelyf_98: not really though
lostandlonelyf_98: u don’t seem like that
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: i now whut u mean.
friendlydude2013: thnx! ur sound pretty kool 2.
friendlydude2013: look, i go 2 the church evry wed. starts @ 8. if u wanna show, i wear a red hat.
friendlydude2013: if not i totes understnad.
Batwoman: This man was pretty slick, she'd give him that much. She was beginning to see how the group had been so successful up until this point. - You're doing great! tell him K and that you have to go. Don't give away too much. - the Redbat. She scratched her nose with the back of her hand. Barb had been wrong about Stephanie; she was entirely capable from what Kate had seen. It seemed to the elder redhead that the original Batgirl had been having problems letting go of the past, and her cowl. "You never were good at being wrong, were you Babs?" she muttered to herself. - Oracle; need Huntress. Wed 8, St Bart's in the Narrows. - was the message she texted.
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: k rite
lostandlonelyf_98: mayB
lostandlonelyf_98: I gotta go
lostandlonelyf_98: moms puking her guts up AGAIN
lostandlonelyf_98: I gotta go hold hair then clean up again
lostandlonelyf_98: cya
Stephanie pushed the computer away, it had been easier than she feared, the memories were there but he wasn’t interested in details, he was cocky, sure of himself, ‘He thinks he can spot us a mile off’ she began to wonder how many times they’d done this.’ Just how late are we?’ Wednesday at 8 huh? Anyone of them could have done this, what they needed her for as to go see the man in the red hat and to look like what he expected. 'Yikes!'
Batwoman: She let out a sigh, putting her head in her hands. Much like Stephanie, she was wondering just how late they were. She had a list of a dozen names, but how many kids didn't have parents coherant enough to realize they were missing? How many children just slipped through the cracks? It made her feel very cold. Her cellphone buzzed again, another text from Renee, but she didn't want anything to do with Gotham PD at the moment, and since Renee had made it clear she wasn't coming out of the closet any time soon she wasn't going to start calling the Detective her girlfriend any time soon. Leaving the device on the counter she stood, going to where her uniform stood. She began to dress for the night; she needed to get in touch with Batgirl and Huntress face to face. "Oracle," she called over the intercom, knowing Barbara, the sucker for sentimentality and agent of stability she yearned to be, would never change her band. "I need to see Huntress and Batgirl. Tonight. Your dad's meeting spot." She didn't know if this would mean Barbara calling the girls or the redhead remotely firing up the Batsignal, and frankly, she didn't care. The redhead had a fire inside her at the moment, and the only way to put it out would be to plan the next step in the game.
Oracle: "Huntress. Batgirl. Batwoman wants to meet you two on the top of 1 Police Plaza." Simple; to the point. Kate was always blunt; they bashed heads on that point before. She never took into consideration how Barbara had felt when she had taken the cowl of Batgirl. Berating her for her relationship with Nightwing, then Robin, just because she didn't mix business and romance, just because she didn't have a heart? It would be several years, and after the accident, before Barbara would realize the reason why Kane and Bruce never showed any sparks was because her former mentor was a lesbian. In retrospect, it made sense, but it left Barbara with a sinking, slick feeling, wondering why they had spent so much time together, whether Kane was trying to groom her to be a better vigilante or something else. Truth would point to the prior, but a selfish streak in the girl who could do no wrong would always lead her down the path of vanity.
Story By: Batwoman
Act 1, Scene 1
Batwoman: Gotham City, 2100h, Sunday July 14, 2013 - Detective Renee Montoya grudgingly sat up, pushing back the dark sheets as she ran a hand through her thick, shoulder length hair. The Mexican-American detective looked over at her lover, the Marine scrub out turned reluctant socialite Katherine Kane. “Hey,” she said, nudging the red haired woman with her elbow as she shifted out of the bed. “Get up.” Her words were gruff, gruffer than she had wanted them to be, but there was something on her mind. “Mmhm?” Kane’s sleepy voice called, the pale arm she had cast over her eyes raising just enough for Montoya to see the narrowed green slits. “What?” “Time to go to work,” Renee said, slipping back into her bra and panties, before pulling up her trousers and pulling her shirt off the back of a chair. To this, Kane pushed up on her elbows, raising a brow. “I thought you said you were on days this week? It’s like twenty-hundred,” the red haired woman asked, both her body language and her eyes pleading with her lover to return to the bed. “Not me,” she said, fishing a set of files from her brief case. “You.” She tossed the Gotham City PD paperwork towards her. “I figured we’re stuck; there isn’t anything in our power we can do at this point. Maybe you know some people who can help,” Renee said, almost too casually as she sat down in the previously mentioned chair to put her socks back on. Kate sat up, reaching for the folders, understanding that it must be serious if Renee wanted her involved. Since letting her lover know she was the vigilante Batwoman, Renee had always been much more careful about what she disclosed about work to Kate. On the one hand, she understood, if Renee was found to be the lea inside Gotham City PD that was feeding information to the masked crowd, it would be the end of a career she worked extremely hard for. On the other, it hurt that she was now keeping things she had eagerly shared before.
“What’s this?” “I think we’ve got human traffickers. A list of twenty kids, all from the Narrows and surrounding areas, all with no one who’d really miss them, all missing. No bodies. No sightings. I figured you might be able to extend the arm of the law, or maybe one of your friends can.” “But I thought we?” Kate was confused, looking up at the caramel skinned beauty as she crossed to the bed, leaning over it to say: “This is much more important than going to see the new Emma Stone movie, and you know it.” Renee gave her lover a kiss. “I’ll talk to you in the morning, KatieBug. I love you,” she said, knowing that the red headed woman found the nicknames equal parts endearing and irritating. Kate gritted her teeth as she was kissed like a child and Renee used that childish nickname for her. “I love you too,” she muttered, not quite grudgeningly but certainly not as sweetly as she would have had Montoya not tried to be cute. With that, Renee left, leaving Kane with only the sound of her key turning in the deadbolt as she did. With a sigh, she pushed out of bed, pulling a tank top over her pale body and slipping into a pair of black cotton briefs, grabbing the files and heading to the kitchen to make some coffee. Something told her this was going to be a long night.
Gotham City, 0030h, Monday July 15, 2013 – Renee had a sick sense of humour; Kane had settled on this a long time ago, but now it as becoming even more evident. The files contained enough details for her to get a little extra information, but not enough. Not even close to enough. She had suited up, her uniform she had called it. Kane sighed, pulling out the red wig from the back of the cowl, letting the locks lay around her shoulders. “What is this, Kate?” her dad had asked her when he had found out what she was really up to. “It’s my way of helping.” “You’re a vigilante now? Another one of those masked freaks?” His words had cut her, deeply, deeper than she had ever let on. “I’m a god damn soldier, Dad!” she had fought back. “You have your uniform. This is mine!” and since that day, that is exactly how she had viewed it. It was a mission, an operation, and to be treated with the same respect, dedication and care that would have been expected of her in the Marines. She took the files, sliding them into a black bag and placing that in a compartment on the back of her suit so as to keep both of her hands free. The Monster lit up like a dream and she jealously eyed the Supermotard next to it. Her day bike was so much more fun to drive, but this wasn’t about fun. This was a mission, and she had no choice as to whether she would accept it. Renee had made it clear that she had already exhausted the extent to which she could pursue the cases, and to her lover’s notes she had already added what she could gather, but there was someone in Gotham who surpassed even Kate’s formidable forensic hacking skills, and while she was loathed to make contact with her former friend, there was more to this case than her own pride. When it came to children, Kane would always have a hard time not being able to save them. She had failed to save Liz, twice; she couldn’t live with the souls of more children haunting her dreams. Her Batcycle charged from the underground garage, through a special passageway that first led into the sewers then the drainage canals before exiting on to the streets. Kate knew how to get in touch with her friend, through one of the woman’s new friends, but how to find them? That was a little trickier.
Act 1, Scene 2
Batwoman: Gotham City; 0145h – Kate had managed to track down the two Birds of Prey known as Huntress and Black Canary. She had heard of Huntress more than the other, but she knew of both, though she had never actually met either. Truth be told, off the bat, she had been jealous of the purple clad bow slinger, when Renee had mentioned her. Of course, her lover hadn’t done the other woman any favours by mentioning her in comparison to the red haired Batwoman. She stalked the pair from a higher vantage point. All three women possessed certain traits which made them similar, aside from their flare for the theatric and an inspiration taken from a certain dark knight. They all rode motorcycles, for instance, and although Kane wouldn’t know to draw this similarity yet, they were all drawn into what they do by their parents: Dinah by her mother, Kate by her father, and Helena by both. “If I were a bird of prey, where would I be hiding?” she thought to herself, peering into the dark allies below. She was led to her current position by what she had thought was the Black Canary’s motorcycle, though from this height she could be wrong. It was best to go in for a closer look...
Black Canary: A gleaming purple motorcyce that had obivously been well tuned roared as the blonde deftly wove through traffic on the streets of the East End as if they was standing still. The blonde's hair billowed in the wind just like her leather jacket. She did a hard turn expertly down a side alley. "Hey, Huntress. Everything is quiet past Grove St, it's almmost too quiet, making me nervous. I'm going to continue roof side." she slowed down and parked the bike behind a dumpster and with an acrobat's skill hoisted herself up onto a fire escape, she climbed up instead of taking the ladders it being faster. She started to dash and leap across rooftops. An obvious grin on her face enjoying the rush of the night about her. All the while examining the streets below. "Are you still hunting your gazelle?" she teased tapping her earpiece again.
Huntress: The Huntress listened to Dinah’s motorcycle roar as she moved across the rooftop silently, shifting as the blonde spoke in her earpiece softly. Sometimes, she missed working alone. “Yeah, yeah.” The woman answered in quiet reply as she took a running start, jumping from one rooftop to another and tucking into a roll. It was indeed a quiet night, so quiet that her and the infamous Black Canary had ended up a mere block from one another. Cape settling around her, Huntress breathed in deeply, the soft wind catching her hair as she shook her head at Dinah’s next question when her blue eyes flicked to the side, catching a tangle of red hair from the corner of her eyes a few rooftops away. “No, I’ve changed flavors it seems. Not enough color in the pelt.” She answered in that same quiet tone as her brows furrowed and she straightened. “Don’t bother me.” Dropping her hand from her mask to stop her own transmission she changed directions and moved from the roof top she was on to the next, this time taking more care to be silent. Of course Canary went rooftop lurking, it wasn’t like that was Huntress’ deal or anything. Damn bird needed to keep her yellow feathered butt on the ground.
Batwoman: As the two women talked, Kate worked her way down the scaffolding that comprised the building’s outer fire escape system. She paused as she got close enough to hear them talking, and sure enough they referred to each other by their call signs. Looks like step one was complete. Now to move on to the actual contact, which to be honest, was going to be a little more difficult. Huntress wasn’t exactly known for working well with others, and even if Canary could be seen as one of the gentler masks in Gotham, it wasn’t exactly like people like the Red Hood set a high bar for “nice.” She crouched, her cape dropping around her body as her green eyes peered down on the women. They seemed to disperse, one sticking to the ground while Canary took to climbing up towards her. Well that’s convenient, she thought to herself. Kate had developed her aerial fighting skills beyond the average crime fighter in the city, not that it was Kate’s plan to attack, but always better to have the advantage. Her retreat to the roof top took only a moment, and less time even to find a friendly shadow, concealing herself for a moment to wait. This was as good a spot as any to meet them: they were away from civilians, and as far as Kane could tell the roof top was clean. Now it was just a matter of waiting for the blonde song bird to crest the parapet opposite
her.
Black Canary: Black Canary smirked as she heard her friend and often bregrudged partner reply. "Oh, really? Well, let me know if I can help flush them towards you." she said and gave a soft grunt as she landed on top of the old abandoned church, climbing to stand on top of stone steeple lined with stone angels, she looked at one. Ever since that bad horror movie marathon Helena had insisted they watch she found the statues gave her the creeps. She scanned about the area, watching the pedestrian traffic, her booted heel on the foot of a stone step on some stone scroll work, her black fishnet looking stark against her skin in the pale moonlight up there. She didn't hear or see anything with the shadows nearby, not suspecting that she was being watched, even while she was actively scanning. But she caught something on the wind, the slight scent of Daylillies and violets. It reminding her of someone. She ran through the scents in her mind and smiled remembering a particular member of law inforcement. She stood still waiting, like the stone angels about her.
Huntress: Huntress wrinkled her nose at Dinah’s offer for assistance and shook her head barely, dark hair stirring around her shoulders as she landed on the corner of another rooftop, heavy boots surprisingly silent. The wave of red hair she had been following had seemed to have all but disappeared into the shadows and a scowl pulled at the corner of her lips. Well, unless the person took to the streets they couldn’t have gotten far. Reaching back under her cape she slipped her collapsible staff free from behind her back, gloved hand tightening around it but not extending it yet as she walked along the ledge, paying not mind to the height below. Another gust of wind had her turning her face into it and as she looked she saw the unmistakable trail of blond hair on the roof of an old church and then her eyes narrowed. One more rooftop over she caught a form in the shadows, and the Huntress moved to it, jumping down the short drop from one roof to the next, bending her knees to ease the weight and remained crouched as she gazed at the shadows in front of her waiting for it to move.
Batwoman: Each member of the loosely coined “Bat Family” brought something unique to the table, Kane brought a strong military heritage. She could almost hear the Colonel now, blasting her for not better guarding her flank. Her eyes never shifted from Canary, but her ears picked up the sound of the gravel on the roof moving, as if under the pressure of a boot, matched with an unmistakable flutter of a cape, heavy material making a distinctive sound, different from a flag or laundry left on the line. Her red lips parted, a cruel slash along her white face. Normally pale, Kane worked to make her face even less coloured as Batwoman, applying make up around the exposed lower half of her face. “Aren’t you the quiet one?” she said, her voice inquisitive as she spoke to the Huntress, still unsure of where the other woman was position exactly. She had an idea from where the sound came from, but truth be told it was a rough estimate and would do no good if the woman decided to strike. “I’m not here for a fight. I need a favour,” she said, still watching Canary carefully, waiting for them to respond to her and accept that she was not hostile before fully exposing herself. From the shadows, she would be able to arm a pellet into her gas gun before making an escape should the two become violent. Her voice had been enough to say in which shadow she hid, but not where within. She was, however, hoping that her first interaction with the notorious Birds of Prey would go better than that.
Black Canary: Dinah stood surveying from the steeple and out of the corner of her eye saw just the hint of cape, Helena. She never even heard her, she had gone silent as usual, but even her boots didn't make a sound, the woman walked about like a ghost. Canary kept looking around as if she didn't notice her partner, not wanting to give Helena's position away. Apparently her hunch there was someone watching her nearby was correct, Helena's new hunt. Then she heard the voice and looked toward the inlet of windows on the building nearby. "Whether we fight you determines on the the favour." she teased, her body fluidly going into a defensive pose as if ready to fight. "But I have a feeling you want us to help with Gotham
PD's dead ends. I take it Detective Montoya asked you for a little assistance on her case?" she asked smiling. Letting a long pause sit there for a moment, letting her wonder how she knew. "Her perfume rubbed off on you." she smirked cheekily. "You can come out if you want. I don't bite."
Huntress: Caught, but that was okay. Her gloved hand tightened on the metal staff and the sounds of it expanding seemed to echo softly, still not giving her position away. Not the most skilled fighter in the Birds of Prey being second to Dinah, the Huntress was by far the most brutal and well known for her actions and her quick temper especially when it came to protecting those who were members of the BoP or the Bat family which already landed the redhead in a bad spot. The voice of Dinah reached her, friendly and playful and generally the exact opposite of her own dark and growling tones that were often reminiscent of Batman. Not giving her position away still she watched as the shadow moved and as Dinah continued to speak to her. The Black Canary could more than handle herself, Helena knew but there were plenty of other ways to get a hold of the women than stalking them on patrols. As Canary finished speaking Helena answered from behind Batwoman, out of both arm and leg reach but close enough that it would have been easy to close the distance between the two. “I do.” Huntress added to Dinah’s biting comment but made no move forward, standing with the staff in her right hand, the end of it pressed against the rooftop.
Batwoman: Though they wouldn’t see it, Kane’s face registered a moment of confusion: how was the blonde able to determine not only that she was inquiring after a Gotham PD case, and specifically that Renee was involved? Idiot, she thought to herself. You didn’t shower before you suited up! She groaned inwardly. Such a beginner mistake, she thought to herself. During her Beast training she had been forced to go weeks without bathing in order to hide her scent, and she gets revealed because she was too eager to get suited up that she didn’t wash her lover’s perfume off before she left the house. It was all she could do not to actually smack her forehead with the palm of her face. If the Colonel would yell at her for the first mistake, this one would be unforgivable. At Huntress’ comment her brows furrowed without being seen, her smirk falling into a clearly unimpressed sneer. “Cute, but no thanks,” she said, her own tone rather deep for a woman, but lacking in the gravelly roughness that Batman and Huntress put on. “And yes, it’s a Gotham PD file. Missing kids. I got as far as I could, but I need someone who can go deeper. A mutual friend of ours,” she said, dropping all pretense or extra flowery language. Indeed, she even stepped out of the shadows her hands held at shoulder height to signal she was non aggressive. One on one, she’d have no problem with these twos, but the two of them together, and she heard that the blonde had a hell of a pair of lungs. No interest in getting involved with that. “Just need you to get me in touch with her.”
Black Canary: Black Canary just smiled as her hunch about the case was confirmed by the stranger in the shadows. It also confirmed in a round about way where the file came from and the stranger indeed was close to the Detective. The woman in the shadows cleverly didn't confirm or deny anything more, which Canary found a relief, this woman was smart and careful. Her fists suddenly clenched as she heard about missing kids, her smile fading. "It sounds like you need information that only an Oracle can give you." Her eyes widened a little and her smirk returned as she saw Batwoman step out of the shadows her posture showing her non-aggressive intent. She looked over Batwoman carefully, sizing her up. She was tall and built, much like someone who had been in the military. She smiled warmly "I was wondering when our paths would meet." she jumped down to roof level from the steeple and walked over to the edge the rooftop. Halfway there she put a hand to her earpiece and whispered to herself. She then hopped up on the ledge of the roof. "It's a case we would be glad to help with. Our friend has agreed to talk with you and would like to go over your file and your findings so far." she smiled as her blonde hair drifted about her shoulders in the night breeze going over the rooftops. "I'm sure introductions aren't necessary since we all know who each other is. But, still..." she smirked and extended her hand over the small gap seperating the buildings. "I'm Black Canary."
Huntress: The unimpressed sneer was met with a deadpanned expression as the Huntress stood watching the crimson haired woman. Batwoman. The name rang a bell, as did her actions and even though she had taken up the name and the symbol she wasn’t apart of the family and she didn’t do things like the rest. Huntress had her sized up and dismissed almost as fast as she had decided that if Canary and herself wanted to down the other woman she would have stood much of a chance. Shifting she collapsed the staff and tucked it up under her cape behind her back as the two discussed the details of the case. Not a kid lover herself she knew Dinah was and even still, something like that was sure to get her temper up. Listening in on the muttered conversation between Oracle and Canary Huntress moved forward and to the side, staying out of arms reach of the crimson haired woman but moving to align herself with Canary as the blonde came forward. Not extending her hand like the other, she inclined her head none the less in a sort of greeting. “Huntress.” She didn’t trust strangers, especially not the kind that you met on rooftops in the middle of the night, even if she was wearing the ‘family” symbol.
Batwoman: She merely watched, her eyes hidden behind white lenses in her mask. She hadn't thought that Oracle would be so easy to convince to meet her, they hadn't parted ways as friends. "Batwoman," she replied simply. As far as temperments were going, she could see she was somewhere between the two women. Her temper was foul, as she was a redhead, after all, and they were known for having fluxuating tempers as firey as their folicles. She shook Dinah's hand, her grip firm and solid, again showing the military heritage in the rigidity of her shake and the firmness of her grip. She knew that Huntress didn't trust her, which was fine. It's part of what made them all good at their jobs. She had refused Batman's invite into "Batman Incorporated," finding the whole idea of it rather... absurd. The freedom to opperate as she wished, and more importantly after Bette's not-so-accidental accident, the freedom to operate without worrying about someone else's six being covered, were worth the "non status" within the Bat Family. "I have the files, but I won't hand them over to anyone but Oracle," she said, her tone rather cold and forceful. Her eyes flitted from Huntress to Black Canary before settling on the dark haired woman, deciding if there were to be a problem, it would be from the younger of them. Youth often bred impetutiousness if it wasn't properly beaten and trained out.
Black Canary: Canary shook the firm and brief handshake with Batwoman smiling but the smile faded a bit as she heard the strong cold no non-sense tone from their new partner wanting to meet Oracle in person. Things started to quickly piece together in the blonde's mind. Although it was brief, Dinah gathered that Oracle wasn't eager to meet Batwoman, she almost refused, but at Canary's persistance to 'help the children' she allowed for them to share information, and sharing only. Apparently these two had met before and Oracle was not happy with how things had gone. She winced as she was now getting an earful about meeting was not part of the deal. Canary forced a charming smile. "As in any investigation with teams, we need to trust each other right? I could take the file to Oracle for you, I promise you I will take good care of it and will return it promptly... I'm sure you know first hand that Oracle likes her privacy and doesn't encourage visitors." In her ear Oracle was debating her rhetoric, acusing her of bending her words, which is what she was doing, but canary ignored her, charm and being politic was nearly a super power for her. "As a fellow crimefighter, you know how privacy must be kept. You can't just know the Oracle's location. If you insist... we would have to give you a sedative and transport you there." hoping that it was enough of a veiled threat of a hassle that Batwoman would decline. Oracle balking at the suggestion in her ear. She tapped her earpiece and turned it off. She kept smiling showing her good intentions. Wondering how heavy Batwoman with her gear really was. She didn't want to have to haul her halfway across Gotham if she had to.
Huntress: Damn she wished she would have done more homework, there wasn’t much she could recall from what she had read about Batwoman, but there was enough in presence to get the fact that she was rigid, and obviously didn’t play well with others. Well that’d either be a point of friendship for them, or a point of someone coming out with a few fractures and bruises at the end of the day. Still watching the exchange closely an incredulous look came over her face at the red-heads demand and those blue eyes spit fire as the gaze was turned to her. “Like hell.” Huntress
said simply. Seriously? Did she really think she was going to meet them then get taken to see Oracle, at their base camp? Listening to the back and forth of Oracle and Canary a headache began to develop behind her eyes and she resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose to ease the tension there. “She doesn’t like visitors, hell she doesn’t like us there half of the time, so as Canary said, either hand over the files or it’d be my pleasure to sedate you.” Unlike Batman, Huntress wasn’t afraid to smile to which she did, flashing those pearly white teeth in a shark like grin. “You came to us lady, you either follow our rules or you figure it out on your own.” People weren’t her strong point, especially not other women in their line of work. It had taken her forever to get to -tolerate- the blond at her side now who would no doubt be giving her a dirty look for messing up her more polite and diplomatic approach. Oracle shouting in her ear wasn’t doing much to make her sound any nicer.
Batwoman: "She seems to have misunderstood me," she said, her voice rather cold and harsh as she narrowed her eyes. "It is not a term up for debate. Our history before she became Oracle notwithstanding, this is not a matter for her to be prideful or bitter," Kate had a hard time stopping herself, and almost litterally had to bite her tongue in order to keep more from coming out. She looked impassively to Helena, she seemed brash, abbrasive and overly aggressive; if only she had darker skin Kate might have found her incredibly attractive. Straigtening her stance, Kane again reitterated the terms of her deal. "No sedation. No blind folds. And you can tell our friend that I still know where she keeps her spare keys; I'm only asking out of courtesy," and with that, Kane put on a menacing grin, perhaps given the circumstances and Barbara's own history with uninvited guests, would be more so than the one Huntress was trying to use to intimidate her. At one point, a life time ago, Kane and Gordon had worked together, trusted each other enough to even let each other into their lives beyond the mask. But, of course, as was the way with all things, there were points where the two simply did not see eye to eye. Batgirl, as far as Kane was concerned, had never had the stomach to do what was necessary.
Black Canary: A dirty look was shared with the Huntress as she verbally stood up for the Bird of Prey. Helena had a short patience for people not playing nicely and the Batwoman did not back down, like a headstrong sergent. She frowned at Huntress' too eager readyness to bring Batwoman down. Dinah winced a little at Batwomans words. She wasn't backing down or willing to negotiate, she truely was a member of the bat family in her own way. She thought about all the times with the dark knight himself where she had to 'persuade' him to change his mind, which was harder than taking out a wall with her canary cry. She tapped her earpiece again and was greeted by Oracle's not so happy response to being cut off. She sighed and her jaw squrared a little as she clenched her teeth getting quickly tired of being caught in the middle of the other three. "Now listen here all of you." her own tone losing it's friendlyness, sounding like a mother not happy with how her children were behaving. "I have no idea what happened in the past and to be honest I don't care. Batwoman, you came to us with good intent asking for help. Not being willing to negotiate at all is not the strength of a commander, it is a weakness. Some of the best battles were fought in negotiations without any blood being drawn." her tone firm. "Stand down." she turned to the Helena. "Your support is appreciated Huntress and I'm glad you will stand up for me and Oracle, but you will have to let someone new into our fold here, whether you like it or not." she looked into the distance as she addressed Barbara. "And as for you Oracle. There are kids at stake here, I don't want to be witness to the measuring contenst you have here with me stuck in the middle. As we speak who knows what is happening to those children. I am taking responbility here, I am taking Batwoman with us to meet you. I will take you both down myself if you two can't play nice. If something happens I will take full blame. Now all of you grow up." The expression she had could melt stone and after a pause she let out a breath. "Not that is taken care of, can I give you a lift?" she smirked at Batwoman.
Huntress: The same left as soon as it came as her temper sparked to life and she took a step forward towards Batwoman, intent clear that she was more than willing to take the statement the red-head said and turn it into a fight. After all, it felt a little too threatening for her tastes. Then of course, Dinah had to step in on a tirade that Helena only half listened to, until she heard her name. Flicking her blue eyes to the blond she rose a brow behind her mask then her gaze narrowed sharply into a bat glare. “You want to work with this bitch who obviously is going to bully her way into information and our base and be okay with that, then that’s on you and Oracle.” Huntress snapped at her, she wasn’t one for taking orders, and she wasn’t one for being lectured at. “When things get screwed up because you trusted the wrong person that’s on you.” A finger was jabbed sharply against Canary’s shoulder and turned, pulling her grappling gun from her belt. “I’m going on patrol, you babysit -that- all on your own.” And with a sharp pop, she leapt off of the roof and was pulled away, turning off her ear piece in her mask. Like hell she was going to back down and just “accept” some hotheaded fake bat.
Batwoman: She was a little dumbfounded at first with the lambasting she took from the Black Canary, but as the blonde moved on, addressing Huntress and Oracle in much the same manner, a smirk came across her lips. It was rare for Kane to assume the posture so common in the Batfamily, shoulders rolled forward so as to hide within one's cape, and even now, she remained in a proud stance, shoulders back and chest pushed out, as if it full attention. By the time the rant was finished, she had retired to a parade stance, her feet shoulders' width apart, her hands clasped behind her back but back and shoulders till straight and squared. She couldn't help but let out a chuckle at Helena's actions. "Cute."As the blonde asked if Kate needed a lift, she smirked again, sorely tempted to accept the blonde bombshell's offer for a lift, though she was certain if Renee saw it on the police security cams there would be hell to pay. She had decided when she put the mask on, aside from Renee, she wouldn't let her sexuality out of the bag as Batwmoan, it would make it too easy to connect Batwoman to Kate Kane. She would simply play off as asexual, allowing the media to assume she was the straight girlfriend/former girlfriend of the Batman, it was only within the Bat Family she was seen as an outsider, as a "non member." Kate was fine with that. "I'm parked around the corner," she said casually.
Black Canary: Black Canary's muscles flexed, almost on reflex as the Huntress jabbed her finger. She sighed as the hotheaded woman flew off into the night. She would probably cool off and join them later. If not, it might be her turn to buy coffee for her. She gave a quizzical glance at Batwoman as she smirked and then chuckled at them. Did she think this was a game? It was her neck on the line if things didn't go well with Oracle, she hoped she was aware of that. She did have to smirk when her offer for a ride was called cute. "alright your choice. I'll meet you in the alley off Grove. See you in a bit." with that she dashed off into the night soon flipping down off a fire escape down to her bike. She mounted it and rode off soon meeting Batwoman on her own bike. As soon as she saw her Black Canary sped off at breakneck speed, whizzing through traffic as if racing her, her blue eyes sparkling in the excitment and thrill of the ride. Taking them to the secret alley entrance to the old clock tower that was Oracle's base of operations.
Batwoman: She shook her head and took off in her own way down to where the Duke was parked. Theh ignition key turned without imedpiment and she felt the motor roar to life, the vibrations travelling through the steel alloy frame and carbon fiber panels, even through the padded and armoured suit. The look Canary had given her was one of mild disgust, which lead Kate to believe that Barb had been more than just coy about her life as Batgirl, before officially becoming part of the Batfamily. Kane would admit, there was a bit of bitterness there in the way that Barb had sold her out so easily, then again, if Kane was going to be honest with herself, she hadn't really given Gordon many options. There was hurt on both sides of this story, but right now none of it mattered, and Black Canary was right, neither Kane's ego, nor Gordon's, or even Huntress' ego, mattered; there were lives at stake, the lives of children no less, and if that meant she had to be the mature one, again, then so be it. The Ducatti caught up with Canary's cruiser style motorcycle quick enough, and was able to follow her effortlessly. Kate found a positive comment in the pleasant view, noting to herself she should offer to follow Canary again sometime.
Act 1, Scene 3
Black Canary: Black Canary enjoyed the exhilerating ride, happy to see that Batwoman followed her like a shadow. The woman did have skills. She parked her bike in the base of the clock tower. "You can take the elevator if you want." she gestured to lift on the far side of room. "Or you can take the express route." she had gone over to a rope and twisted it about her ankle like a circus performer grabbing on to it with one hand, offering her hand to the taller woman. If taken she would tug on the rope and they would soar up to the platform of the clocks inner workings a nice apartment built between the gears. Facing a two way mirror was the large clock face and seated in a wheel chair facing it surrounded with a computer that would boast batman's was the Oracle herself. "Hey Oracle." she smiled. "Sorry about earlier, ready to work?" Barbara turned about and could help but give a little smile at the birds casual kindness. She gave Kate a cool look and shrugged, nodding. "What do you got?"
Batwoman: She smirked, accepting the hand, even though she didn't really need it. There were sometimes when it was better to feign requiring assistance, isn't that what they taught straight girls these days? Never mind all of that, she thought to herself. Renee would be less than pleased to find her flirting with one of the scantily clad heroes of Gotham, but really, how could Kate be to blame? There were many intricacies to their relationship, not the least of which was the fact that Renee was still deep within the closet, but here was neither the time nor the place to be thinking about these kinds of things. When they were at the top of the ride, Kate let of of Dinah and turned to look at Barb. "Long time no see," she said bluntly, her right hand reaching behind her back for the consealed documents. "Missing kids. Eight so far. All from the Narrows; some are from lower income or single parent families, a few are wards of the State. In every case they disappeared during the hours they should have been at school. Five girls, three boys. Ages range from seven to thirteen. Two caucasian, three black, one asian and two latino. So far the only connection I've been able to come across is that they all lived in the Narrows and were poor. I need more." She dropped the file in Barb's lap.
Black Canary: She took Batwoman's hand and guided it to wrap about her while she drew the red haired woman close, pressing into her snuggly, her free hand resting on the small of Kate's back as they soared up to the top of the tower. The Oracle rolled her eyes at Batwoman's comment as the file was dropped into her lap, opening it up and looking it over as Batwoman gave her a summary. Dinah rested against Barb's chair looking over her shoulder. "Very different children in similar circumstances. I take it they don't go to the same school or hangout at the same mall or something?" Barbara gnawed on one of her fingers as she looked at the data and then started to go through databases on her computer accessing different networks. "Hmm... checkng to see if they visit the same chat rooms and share IM lists." Dinah fidgited a little as the oracle did her computer magic, to be honest she had a basic understanding of computer and that was good enough for her, it might as well have been Zatanna performing spells in her mind. The blonde's mind obviously preoccupied about the children, starting to scowl as she thought about the scum that had been doing the kidnapping.
Batwoman: Leaned over Barb's shoulder, watching the screen carefully. "Not that I was able to find, but to be honest, I don't really know what's going on inside the head of a preteen these days," she muttered. "I'm not even sure I ever knew." When she was the age most of these kids were she lost her mother and her twin sister, two of the most important people in her life. Kate had always been the tough one, ready to fight and defend Liz, the softer, more reasonable twin, whow as able to sweet talk Kate out of trouble nine times out of ten. She watched as Barb worked her computer magic, a small smirk pulling on her lips. She had forgotten how good the other red head was at this. "You always were better with the research than you were in the field," she commented, meaning it as a compliment, but realizing soon as the words left her lips that it was easily misconstruded as a back handed one.
Black Canary: The oracle was quicly hacking into a school district server and was finding the accounts of the missing students. On several screens each student's computer history was being run through an algortithmatic tool, looking for similar sites and ip address they had been in contact with, while another was algorthim brought up their crimincal and medical records adding their data to the search. The scrolling text was reflected in Barbara's glasses. As she heard Batwoman's comment she glared at her over the rims of her glasses. "This will take me awhile. Why don't you two head out for a bit." she said cooly, it obvious she didn't like them looking over her shoulder and less than wild about Kate's presence. Dinah nodded her blond hair bobbing. "There's an ice cream parlor across the street. Do you like Rocky Road?" she smirked.
ACt 2; Scene 1
Batwoman: The meeting with the Birds had gone better than she had thought; her former partner's little pit bulls weren't as big on bite as the younger woman's last set. The Marine scrub out had returned to her apartment, working things on her own end. She didn't know anything more than the files gave her: numerous children of all races and ethnic make ups, all coming out of the same poor neighbourhood, but that wasn't exactly news. Crime had been targeting poor children for years. Something about this was different. She wasn't arrogant enough to call herself a "detective," that was for Renee and the big guy to do; Kate was a soldier, and sometimes the hardest part of that job was waiting for the detectives to do their job and give her a target. Beside her, her cellphone went off. A slender hand outstretched to take a look at the caller ID: Renee. Somewhere between annoyance and anticipation was where Kate usually fell when it came to a phone call from her heavily closeted girlfriend. "Did you talk to your friends?" "Yes. They're on it." "Which ones?" Kate rolled her eyes; she had a feeling that Gotham's finest would be happier knowing the big guy was on the case, what with his relationship with Gordon and all that. "Not the big guy." "Who?" "You expect me to tell you that?" "You tell me everything." "You'd be surprised." "What do you mean?"
Kate took a deep breath, putting her head in her hands and putting pressure on the bridge of her nose to stem the migrane that came from a fight with Renee, and this was lining up to be just that. "Look, I'm waiting, okay? We aren't miracle workers, you know how long these things can take." "I know." The phone went dead for a minute. "I love you, Katie bug..." Renee's voice was soft, letting the redhead know she was sorry for being impatient and snapping. "I know," she replied, taking a deep sigh, green eyes closed. There was a pregnant pause before Kate returned the affection: "I love you too." She hung up the phone with a groan, wondering what did she think she was doing. After turning down Batman's offer to join Batman Inc in favour of a position where she got endless fun toys, she was seeking assistance from the Ultimate teacher's pet. "Speak of the devil," she grumbled, hearing a positive beep from her computer. Kane lifted her head to see the blinking logo in the bottom of her screen: Barbara had found something. Picking up her cowl with one hand Kate made her way to her Duke and headed towards the clock tower. When she pulled up, finding an adequate cover spot for her bike, Kate used her grappling hook in much the same manner as Dinah had brought her into the building the previous evening. There were somethings she did more like the big guy, and somethings she wasn't as on point with, the sudden appearing and disappearing, she had that. Letting herself in through one of the cut outs for the bells, she dropped down in the centre of Barbara's computer lab.
Black Canary: Reclined on a couch Black Canary is resting with her her arms folded behind her head. one hand slides out to wave as she sees the Batwoman fly up on of the cutouts for the bells. "Hey, you're pretty fast. I expected you in another minute. We need to race sometime and see how fast you really are." she grinned. The oracle smirked at canary and rolled her eyes,giving a cool look to the Batwoman, but apparently was trying to play nice as she forced a smile. "We have more pressing things at the moment.... here take a look at this." she pulled up some things on to her largest display and Dinah slid on to her boots and walked over. Barbara was showing several chatroom posts and medical records of the kids families. "They have two things in common. One they are all kids to junkies and drug addicts, some of their parents are addicts to perscription drugs, so all kinds of different demographics. And the second thing they have in common is that they are all seeking help. They all go to this Gotham Family Support group Chat room. And although they don't all chat with each other, they all seem to talk to the same person." she made a few clicks. "friendlydude2013." Dinah made a huffing sound and her fists balled up. "Seriously? some unfriendly friendly dude is preying on children seeking help?" she says with a little tone creeping into her voice.
Huntress: For once in her life, Helena was on the exact same wave length as Barbara, and she wasn’t sure that made things any better. Butting heads in the group was kind of her forte and most of the time it was against the other two older females, to which she ignored them and did her own thing anyway but now they had to add yet someone else to the volatile mix. Huntress sat on the far end of the couch from Canary and was outright refusing to speak with her. That temper was flared up still and shown clearly in her blue eyes behind her mask and her lips were pulled down into a scowl. “You know, I’m so glad Canary just let’s some high and mighty flame headed, bitch just bully her way here. And then took her out for icecream. Oh yeah I’m sure that really won her on over.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice as she shoved off from the couch and started pacing. This is why she hated working with women, they were soft and Dinah was all too ready to play the bubble headed hostess to someone just because she wore the right emblem. If she had been working with Batman he’d have stopped Batwoman in her tracks, taken her down a few pegs then would have allowed her to be on the case as well while he worked it. But no, oh no. Dinah had to take her out for ICECREAM. Reaching up Helena shoved her fingers through her dark hair then leaned against the far side of Oracle’s desk as said flame headed bitch appeared and Dinah jumped up like an excited puppy to greet her. Helena rolled her eyes then read over Barbara’s shoulder as she spoke. Just because she didn’t like what was going on here didn’t mean she wouldn’t do her job.
Batwoman: "The 'flame headed bitch,' has been around longer than you, kiddo, and she has excellent hearing," Kate muttered, rising from her crouch in the middle of the space to stand over Barb's shoulder. With a common enemy it was easy for the two redheads to focus, they had done it before when they worked together, even though it ended ... badly... To put it nice. An all too familiar hand reached out, resting on Barbara's shoulder out of habbit before Kate realized what she was doing and removed theh and, instead letting it hide inside her cape. She drew a slow breath, the exhale coming out somewhere between a grunt and a growl. The fact that someone was targeting children was bad enough, but children who were trying to get help? Well that was something dark, even by Gotham's high standards. "We need to get someone into the room," she said definitively. "Barbara, what's the oldest age these chat rooms allow?" She turned to Dinah and Helena. "The blonde Batgirl... is she still active?" She had lost track of most of the Bat-family; she worked on opposite ends of the spectrum from most of them. While they were dealing with lunatics she was dealing with fanatics; they dealt with gangs, she dealt with cults. They lived in the shadows, she danced with the things that went bump in the night. "She looked rather young for her age, if I remember correctly." Her brows would furrow unseen by the other three women, though undoutbedly Barbara would be able to see where Kate was going with this. She wanted to get Stephanie Brown, Batgirl III, aka Spoiler, into the chat room and then set her up as bait. Kane would rather not have to rely on such things, ie: other people, but sometimes you do what you have to in order to get the job done.
Black Canary: Dinah saw the grumpy posture and looks that Helena was giving her and Batwoman and gave her a little bit of a look back, then smirked. "You're still not a grumpy pants that we went out to ice cream without you are you? I did bring some back for you, chocolate caramel cashew, it's in the freezer." Barbara clicked on a couple things on her computer to show the help site's entry information. "The age limit is 16." As the second question was asked she looked at Dinah knowingly. Dinah nodded as Stephanie was brought up although her face had a grim look to it, she already could see where this was already going and didn't like it. But she knew they didn't have much choice, and it would be safer to have someone who could defend themselves and had an earpiece to call for help. "Yeah, she is. I have worked with her on a couple cases and we train weekly. She could do the job, and she would be eager to help. But it's too risky. I don't want to hang her out there like fresh bait." she says, obviously caring about the young hero. She pulled a cellphone discritely out of her suit. "What does everyone else think? Should I call her?"
Huntress: The flat look that Helena gave Dinah had a clear message of something that would have gotten her cuffed upside the head by Barbara if she were in reach, and had said the words aloud. The fact that Batwoman heard her? She gave no shits. None at all. The information didn’t have the same effect on her as it did Dinah, outwardly her expression didn’t change and neither did her posture, but inwardly, well…the Black Canary better hope she got to the ringleader before Huntress and her crossbow did. Pushing herself up straight at the mention of yet bringing someone else in on this her gaze shifted to Dinah then away as she produced a cell phone from god knows where. “Gross.” She muttered under her breath and was reminded to never borrow Dinah’s phone. Even if the blonde haired Batgirl wasn’t 16, she sure as hell looked it and could play the part no problem, though she never did ask her her age. As Canary asked what everyone thought about bringing yet another person onto the case she said nothing, it wasn’t like it would matter. It seemed more like Dinah was jumping through hoops to please the new guest with their great “teamwork” than actually caring about who she involved. The decision would be made regardless. Leaning back down she spoke to Barbara. “You can’t just trace the IP of that screen name? It might be bounced around but it wouldn’t be anything you couldn’t handle.” God, she’d said anything, even a compliment to the redhead if it meant getting this case over and done with.
Batwoman: "She's more capable than you guys think," she said, her voice sounding slightly distracted while her eyes remained on the screens, still scanning them. Leaning over Barbara's shoulder and directing her to click on some fo the missing children's profiles. She was a firm believer in the "trial by fire" method, and that no one will ever live up to their true potential if they're coddled and babied. She raised an eyebrow at Huntress and shook her head. "Montoya's files present the case that this is a mutlinational organization; we might find a single port of call for these sickos, and if we jump while the kids are in transition, they'll just abandon them and leave them to die from dehydration and starvation," her voice was rather cold, her stern expression matching Huntress' as she stood up. "Make the call," she said to Dinah before turning to the dark haired woman. "You're going to shadow her; the kid. I've never seen someone move like you do. You'll be able to get around without being heard or seen; I want you to keep eyes on her, but don't interfere." Huntress may have not been the best person for Kate's attitude. When she was at West Point, Kate had been a Cadet Commander, meaning she was in charge of her particular group of Cadets. Used to giving out orders and expecting them to be obeyed, she rarely left room for arguements or deviation from her plan. It got her into trouble with Renee from time to time, and unbeknownst to Kane at the current moment, it was likely to get her into even more trouble with Huntress.
Black Canary: As Helena gave her a flat look that answered her thoughts about batwoman and involving her in this case, she tilted her a head with a look that says 'watch it' back to the Huntress. Dinah nodded hearing Barbara and Batwoman. "Oh, I know she is quite capable." she frowned. "I just don't like the situation for her first solo assignment." her look releaxed a little as she heard Kate's plan on having Helena shadow Steph. She would be able to follow and trail better than anyone she knew. Although it being Batwoman's idea she didn't know how that would go over. "You are the best canidate for this one Huntress." she said, a slight pleading look in her eyes as she opened her phone. "I'll call her." she dialed the number and waited. ( Barbara nodded and gave a begrudging look. "Yes, just from my side, it appears that someone is doing through many servers and hiding their trail well, I could track it down, but as Batwoman said, someone with those ties are probably part of a bigger operation and to take the whole business down, we will need someone inside."
Huntress: The look from Dinah was ignored, as she continued to listen to the other women speak, standing back straight again. Her gloved covered hands moved to her hips as Kane finally turned and spoke to her directly and a dark unseen brow rose behind her mask at the order she was given to her of all people. The compliment eased her somewhat, simple for the fact the woman wasn’t trying to speak down to her but the order still made her skin crawl and smirk twist her lips. Fingers drummed against her hips and she tipped her head to the side. “Try that again, this time, why don’t you make it a request. I don’t work for you, I don’t know you and I sure as hell won’t listen to an order from you. Canary might be more than willing to wag her tail and accept you into the “club” just to make sure things go smoother, but I don’t roll over and play nice with someone who pushes their way into things. I don’t care what symbol you wear.” Batman himself would have been met with the same obstinate streak, the same cold blue eyes that matched his own and they had nearly come to blows several times because of it but she never backed down, not to anyone. Though the truth was, she knew Batgirl was capable, but she also knew that the blond had a knack of getting in over her head at times and she was glad to be the one trailing her. At Dinah’s words and look and just gave a simple nod, she knew how the Canary was attached, and damn it if she wasn’t a bit soft towards the Sonic Siren and her emotional side.
Act 2, Scene 2
Spoiler: Crystal was sawing logs again, laying on the couch, face down and drooling, dead to the world, as so many times in the past, but this time, Stephanie knelt by the couch stroking her mother’s hair from her face. This time, it was just exhaustion, the long hours of work, caring, this time it was not the drug addled haze she had seen growing up, this was mom with a purpose, mom doing good, mom understanding how necessary she was, how necessary they both were and that despite everything Arthur had been, THEY, the two of them mattered in a way that for all his ambition, Arthur never could. She stroked her mother’s hair behind her ear and gently kissed her forehead, speaking quietly “Those days are gone mom, the old us... dead and gone.” When her phone rang she leapt on her bag to prevent it disturbing Crystal and, covering the speaker with her hands, sidled into the hallway, the birdsong ringtone, it made her blush to think how obvious she had been when assigning ringtones, but her heart was racing, if the canary was calling, it was something else that mattered too, and almost whispering to save her mother. “Hello? Canary?”
Batwoman: She couldn't help but smirk; oh, she liked this one. The attitude was a bit much, but there were similarities in the stubbornness that, while she would never admit to openly, Kate respected. "It's good you don't care what symbol I wear," she said, standing with her shoulders squared, rather than the "typical Bat" position, shoulders hunched forward to hide within their capes. Her chin was held high as she looked down, just a little, on the woman. "I respect your stance, but now isn't the time to be asking for "pleases" and "thank yous." You can decline or you can accept," she said flatly, her voice neither rude nor polite but neutral, showing her military roots in the basic language of either accepting an order or denying it. With a flash of black and red from her cape flipping as she turned Kate was leaning over Barbara's shoulder. "Can you set up an account for her? Something that you can ghost on from here?" She slipped into a bit of technical jargon, talking about getting into "friendlydude"'s computer through any backdoors. The posture, the familiarity and the ease at which she was allowed to invade Barbara's personal space might lead the others to believe that there was a history between the two redheads, even though Kane would seemingly, almost reflexively, correct herself moments after making a familiar move, such as the hand on Oracle's shoulder, or leaning over to move the mouse under her hand; simple gestures that showed at one point in history, the two worked rather close together.
Black Canary: Dinah hid her cringe as she saw the huntress' feathers ruffle and she pushed back at the command she was given, even though it did make sense. Her fingers twitched as she tried her best to ignorethe dog references to herself while she tried to get everyone working on the same page. As her eyes met with Helenas ans saw the slifght nod, she knew she would shadow steph for her, she gave a hint of a smile. "Hey Spoiler, the birds of prey need your help on an investigation we are are working on regarding the disappearances of some of your fellow students. Would you be willing to do some undercover work so we can bust this smuggiling ring? It will require being on a help chat room for kids with drug abusing parents, using an account we set up for you. Then you have to meet and get kidnapped by the smugglers, while we trace and shadow you. We will back you up on this. Is it something you would be interested in?
Huntress: Kane was ignored, she didn’t give a damn about what she was saying really and she hadn’t decided to do it for her. The fact that Dinah gave a slight smile seemed to be enough for her. She shifted and sat on the edge of Oracle’s desk to listen to Dinah as she spoke, eyes closing for a moment. Of course Steph would be interested, she wasn’t one to turn down an assignment. That thought struck her momentarily funny as she tuned out the two redheads speaking to continue to listen to Dinah. Opening her eyes again she rolled her shoulders then stood, walking away from them to check out what Dinah left her in the freezer. Chatting about plans wasn’t really her thing, and she was getting antsy for action.
Spoiler: Spoiler? Batgirl! It kind of stung a little, it was taking time for them to accept she wasn’t just Spoiler anymore, Cass had given the cowl to her. It was Hers now, no matter what. Tim didn’t want to see her as Spoiler, fine, Spoiler no more. The sting past instantly though when it became clear Canary wanted to involve her, to involve her in stopping something beyond the low key shenanigans Tim would have tolerated.“Would I?” Hell ,YES!” She winced a bit at her own voice leaning back to check she hadn’t disturbed Crystal, a snort, slight shuffle and then a return to the wet snoring. “Of course I do. How? Where? Why? Who?” She couldn’t help the excitement that was rising, even if the cover included something, something she knew too well, something they had faced down. “Where do you need me?”
Batwoman: She slid a piece of paper from Barbara over to Dinah with a username and password written on it. "Let her know we'll be able to track everything she says and every person who contacts her," Kate's voice still had the crispness of her military heritage to it. She realized she was assuming Stephanie had said yes, though from the way the other three women were going about, it was starting to sound like asking was a formality, that Batgirl would be acceping of orders in a way -her- Batgirl never was. "Before she goes to the meet, we'll have to make contact. I have a tracer she can wear that won't be suspect," she said, producing a small, heart shaped hair clip from her pocket. It had actually come out of the evidence packet Renee had given her, and Kate had installed a small gps tracker in the plastic barrette. It seemed rather awkward in her black gloved hand, between the three costumed vigilantes and Barbara.
Black Canary: As they all chatted she noticed Helena slip off the desk and head toward the kitchen, she smirked guessing what she was going for. As soon as she said it, Dinah realized she used the wrong name. She had worked with steph so long and when they were alone together she called her steph, guess she was still getting used to the new batgirl's title too. She pulled the phone away from her ear as she got the excited resposne. "hehe, calm down Batgirl." she laughed. She nodded as she was handed a sheet of paper and glanced over it and then saw the tracker barrette, she smirked at how cute and girly it looked. "I have some information I need to give you so you can enter the chatroom and get started. I can be on call if you need help, but I think you can wing it. I also have a tracer barette you can wear after you make contact and meet up with their contact. And by then we will all be in position. You will get a flower delivery to your house tomorrow, it will all be part of the boquet." she paused and said in a softer tone. "Thanks again for doing this Batgirl, I appreciate it."
Huntress: Digging around in the freezer Helena found her prize then was forced to look for a spoon. She mulled over the fact that they had to bring yet another person into this again, and tried not to be irritated over it. The bigger the operation, the more players, the more likely it was to fail. But, she was glad Batgirl was getting a chance to show her stuff. Shoving a spoon full of icecream into her mouth she walked back out to the others as Dinah wrapped up the conversation with Steph, her eyes glanced to the heart and she smirked. “Cute.” It was said with a sarcastic undertone as she took another bite, stopping just out of arms length from Dinah incase she got the idea to try and steal a bite.
Spoiler: It was as much as she could do not to squee, ‘She called me Batgirl! AND she thinks I can wing it. OMG! a tracer!’ She found her feet suddenly restless wanting to do a little dance but contenting herself with a tiny jog on the spot “This is SO cool! What do I do now?”
Batwoman: Her eyes looked up at the ice cream and then to Helena's face. "You missed your mouth already," Kate responded drly as the dark haired woman began stuffing her face with ice cream. "I think this is good for tonight, ladies," she said with a sigh. It was late... even for her. The last time she had slept had been two days ago, when Renee first handed her the file. Since then she'd been going all out trying to find leads for Barbara to exploit and dealing with the Sugar and Spice girls Babs was hanging with these days. As dramaticly as she had arrived, Kate simply stepped up to the cut out and, after a quick check out of the drop, she turned to the three inside. "Barbara, you're looking good," she said with a small smirk and a nod. Without further ado, Kate dropped out of the line of sight. Somewhere before hitting the pavement she fired her grappling hook and swung over several blocks where she had left her bike. "Pretty easy night," she thought to herself. She might even had a chance to meet up with Renee if she was lucky.
Black Canary: "Dinah smiled on the phone as she watched helena come back in with a mouthful of ice cream. It did look good. But Helena was out of range without it looking obvious that she was going to steal a bite, scamp. She laughed as she heard the excitement in Steph's voice. "Next? you get some sleep. Or at least try to." she teased. "Good night batgirl." she looked up to hear Batwoman winding things down for the night, she nodded. "Sounds good, you get some reest too." she smiled. Barbara's eye brows went up at the compliment not sure how to take it. "Thanks. See ya." she said giving a small smirk. Dinah waved as Batwoman walked over and dropped through the opening in the floor. Dinah walked over to Helena. "You know I got you a large ice cream, you were planning on sharing that right?" she smirked sidling up to her as the Batwoman left the clocktower.
Huntress: It seemed Helena’s normal response to Kane was to ignore her, which she did currently as she happily shoved another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. Glancing at the clock at the mention of things being good for the evening she tipped her head, damn it was late. Turning her blue eyed gaze back to Dinah as she moved over she narrowed her eyes slightly. “You had ice cream already.” Helena pointed out to her and then an idea came to mind. “But you know, you’re right. Sharing is caring. So me, and my large icecream are going home to see if whatever man is in my apartment when I get there wants some. I need a good workout before I sleep anyway.” She gave Dinah’s arm a pat as she shoved the spoon down into the icecream and walked to the drop off. “You don’t look good, Barb, she was lying. You should actually sleep.” With a grin Helena stepped off the edge, the sound of her grappling gun popping being the last thing heard from her.
Spoiler: When Canary hung up, Stephanie held the phone to her chest a moment before beginning a small celebratory dance “Batgirrrrl, Batgirl!” little more than a whisper, she paused a moment to check again she’d not woken mom… Crystal,… mom… finally she was becoming mom again and not the burden that had been Crystal. Stephanie returned to her room, and threw herself on her back on her bed. “Boo-yah” even though it was a little scary. -e-
Act 2; Scene 3
Batwoman: Barbara had set up Batgirl with everything she needed, including a fake name to protect her family. She was Jamie Lynn Dollard, and her mother was addicted to prescription painkillers and booze. The grade 9 student had been held back a year because of absences taken on by the need to take care of her mother. A little research and Kate had found out just how close to home this had hit for the young woman, wishing Barbara had been more sensative. Sometimes, Kate would remember, Gordon would forget that not everyone had a happy childhood as she did. Not everyone was lucky enough to have fathers as loving as thier's were, and not everyone was as lucky as Barbara to have to go outside their own lives to find horror and hardship. Kate sighed, sitting at her own terminal in her condo, sipping at a cup of ice cold black coffee that was possibly a day old, maybe even three, waiting for the light to blink that Batgirl had logged on. She could see through the rooms external roster that "FriendlyDude2013" was already in the Stretaline abuse room.
Spoiler: Reading through the message, the background, the ‘role’, was hard. Not the role itself, that was no stretch, no challenge, she remembered like yesterday, so vivid that several times Stephanie found herself pausing to compose her thoughts. “This is why they wanted me?” it was good to be working with the Black Canary again, and Batwoman, but… Oracle, somehow Oracle was always there, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of she was being observed, minutely, like a bug. She wondered if this too was a test, or a casual cruelty. Whatever, there was a job to be done, one perhaps amongst all of them she was uniquely qualified to do. Stephanie went then back to the hallway,peeping carefully into the lounge at her mother, curled up on the couch, feet tucked underneath her, cosseting a hot chocolate as she laughed and something ridiculous on the TV. ‘Those days are gone… we’re not who we were… use that to do what you have to.’ She stood a moment longer before returning to her room, closing the door behind her to play the role. She sat a moment, logged in lostandlonelyf_98… Oracle could sure pick them couldn’t she, enetered the room… the target was there. “Ok friendlydude, I guess this is it”
Batwoman: She would send Stephanie a message, a small flag that would pop up on the corner of Stephanie's screen letting her know someone else had access to her terminal as well. - We're monitoring the room. You -can- do this; you're tougher than you think. - Signing it "the Redbat," to keep things simple. Within moments of Stephanie logging on, Friendly Dude would send her a message. - Hey - It was simple, Batwoman thought, but really, what did anyone expect? The man was a creep, not an idiot. He would take his time maniuplating his marks, earning their trust before he struck. Her phone vibrated, a text from Renee. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes; she was starting to get the feeling that Renee came to her for only two things these days. She hadn't pushed about coming out of the closet in a while, maybe she should. At least she would get a few minutes of peace. She looked at the text, about the case, naturally, and tried not to get upset. She sent back a one word message, "Working" and set the phone down, coing back to watch.
Spoiler: The message from the Redbat was calming, she could, she could do this after all, another of the Family had faith in her, she wasn’t about to let her or Black Canary down. And Oracle? Oracle just hadn’t seen her moves. She cracked her knuckles. ‘OK lets do it.’
lostandlonelyf_98: Umm? Hello?
Silence in the room.
bigguy4u: Hey there lil one, asl?
“Oh, get lost!” She closed the PM window down in an instant. “Just my luck.. the wrong creep.”
Batwoman: FriendlyDude2013: hey. wanna chat?
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: Umm
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: hi i guess
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: u dont have 2. my mom iz addicted to perks 2. we r gunna loze the house.
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: oh hell, that sux mine 2 think we can stay but feel trapped u no
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: i no what u mean. i found this group @ a church near my house. they r pretty kool. lots of kids with the same issues. helps, u no?
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: rly? *Stephanie winced uggh this txt speak is so lame
lostandlonelyf_98: I don’t know, cant tlk to the kids at school
lostandlonelyf_98: alreddy think I’m a dummy for being held back a year
lostandlonelyf_98: cant talk to nun of them
lostandlonelyf_98: im saying 2 much arnt ?
friendlydude2013: no! not @ all. yea, skool sux.
friendlydude2013: u should cum 2 the group sometime.
friendlydude2013: even if they dont help, theres normally hot food. pizza n shit
Batwoman: - You're doing great, kiddo - the Redbat. Kate was grinding her teeth, wondering just whow as on the other end of this conversation and how many other kids he was talking to and grooming. Her gut had been right; while he was talking with Steph, Kane had hacked through and found his location: Berlin, though the signal was routed through two Russian servers, one in Tehran and a fourth in Montreal before finally being put through a local Gotham IP address. She brought her hand to her face, squeezing the bridge of her nose. She sent a text to Oracle, letting her know they might need Huntress shortly.
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: don think I wanna eat shit LOL but the pizza sounds good unless its anchuvvy Gack!
Stephanie rolled her eyes, this was painful, she sure hoped Redbat and Oracle were appreciating this.
[lostandlonelyf_98: dunno kinda scared of meeting people I dunno, people can be kinda creepy, u no where you @?[/font]
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: harbor st. sth of arkham's og place.
friendlydude2013: naw its norm pepperonies tastes lik card board but itz free right lol!
friendlydude2013: where u @
Batwoman: She tried to hide the smile; Stephanie was doing amazing, she thought to herself. She reached for the stale coffee again, sipping it without even noticing, eyes transfixed on her screen.
Spoiler: ‘Oh g_d, right they didn’t give me a cover location and I’ll be damned if I’m leading anyone near mom, near Tim no, make it somewhere more pitiful, come on think, and don’t make it easy. Easy will scare him off. If he asks again.. say The Narrows’
lostandlonelyf_98: sheeyuh like I’m gonna just say that, momma didn raise a dummy
lostandlonelyf_98: well she didn do any raisin @ all
lostandlonelyf_98: ure not just tryin to get me somewhere and do things? like on that predator show?
lostandlonelyf_98: whats teh name of that church?
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: no. its st barts on 2nd. the 1 next 2 teh old pig stye (police station- BW) that burnd during that shyt wit batman 5 years ago.
friendlydude2013: i didnt wannaa skare u.
friendlydude2013: im sorry. u seem really nice.
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: im sry, u just hear about so many creeps online
lostandlonelyf_98: u need to be careful never no if some1 is an axe murder or something
lostandlonelyf_98: lol
lostandlonelyf_98: not really though
lostandlonelyf_98: u don’t seem like that
Batwoman: friendlydude2013: i now whut u mean.
friendlydude2013: thnx! ur sound pretty kool 2.
friendlydude2013: look, i go 2 the church evry wed. starts @ 8. if u wanna show, i wear a red hat.
friendlydude2013: if not i totes understnad.
Batwoman: This man was pretty slick, she'd give him that much. She was beginning to see how the group had been so successful up until this point. - You're doing great! tell him K and that you have to go. Don't give away too much. - the Redbat. She scratched her nose with the back of her hand. Barb had been wrong about Stephanie; she was entirely capable from what Kate had seen. It seemed to the elder redhead that the original Batgirl had been having problems letting go of the past, and her cowl. "You never were good at being wrong, were you Babs?" she muttered to herself. - Oracle; need Huntress. Wed 8, St Bart's in the Narrows. - was the message she texted.
Spoiler: lostandlonelyf_98: k rite
lostandlonelyf_98: mayB
lostandlonelyf_98: I gotta go
lostandlonelyf_98: moms puking her guts up AGAIN
lostandlonelyf_98: I gotta go hold hair then clean up again
lostandlonelyf_98: cya
Stephanie pushed the computer away, it had been easier than she feared, the memories were there but he wasn’t interested in details, he was cocky, sure of himself, ‘He thinks he can spot us a mile off’ she began to wonder how many times they’d done this.’ Just how late are we?’ Wednesday at 8 huh? Anyone of them could have done this, what they needed her for as to go see the man in the red hat and to look like what he expected. 'Yikes!'
Batwoman: She let out a sigh, putting her head in her hands. Much like Stephanie, she was wondering just how late they were. She had a list of a dozen names, but how many kids didn't have parents coherant enough to realize they were missing? How many children just slipped through the cracks? It made her feel very cold. Her cellphone buzzed again, another text from Renee, but she didn't want anything to do with Gotham PD at the moment, and since Renee had made it clear she wasn't coming out of the closet any time soon she wasn't going to start calling the Detective her girlfriend any time soon. Leaving the device on the counter she stood, going to where her uniform stood. She began to dress for the night; she needed to get in touch with Batgirl and Huntress face to face. "Oracle," she called over the intercom, knowing Barbara, the sucker for sentimentality and agent of stability she yearned to be, would never change her band. "I need to see Huntress and Batgirl. Tonight. Your dad's meeting spot." She didn't know if this would mean Barbara calling the girls or the redhead remotely firing up the Batsignal, and frankly, she didn't care. The redhead had a fire inside her at the moment, and the only way to put it out would be to plan the next step in the game.
Oracle: "Huntress. Batgirl. Batwoman wants to meet you two on the top of 1 Police Plaza." Simple; to the point. Kate was always blunt; they bashed heads on that point before. She never took into consideration how Barbara had felt when she had taken the cowl of Batgirl. Berating her for her relationship with Nightwing, then Robin, just because she didn't mix business and romance, just because she didn't have a heart? It would be several years, and after the accident, before Barbara would realize the reason why Kane and Bruce never showed any sparks was because her former mentor was a lesbian. In retrospect, it made sense, but it left Barbara with a sinking, slick feeling, wondering why they had spent so much time together, whether Kane was trying to groom her to be a better vigilante or something else. Truth would point to the prior, but a selfish streak in the girl who could do no wrong would always lead her down the path of vanity.