Post by Batman (Bruce Wayne) on May 28, 2015 12:08:21 GMT -5
Off Balance
Story By: Batman and Catwoman
Heroes: Batman, Catwoman, Red Robin
Villains: Quincy Sharpe, Tiger Moth, Penumbra, The Sensei, Lady Shiva
Plot: A mysterious note is left at a crime scene demanding Red Robin and his allies give him up to an unknown person. The timing couldn't be worse as Gotham's new mayor is pushing an Anti-vigilante movement of which this ransom letter becomes the center of criticism of Gotham's vigilante's. Batman and Catwoman seek justice while avoiding the authorities and the ever elusive conspirator.
He gagged and choked upon his blood; a torture technique that was barbaric and inhumane but, what was the point? The victim was a child with a knife puncturing his lung while his arms were stretched out in a crucifix pose. He hung from a simple chain linked fence gagging and struggling to survive. He wanted to sleep, but the pain wouldn’t let him. He would’ve bled out had someone not stabbed him in just the precise manner in which no blood would be able to escape the body. So there the boy hung choking with a sharp pain in his chest, blood filling up his throat and drooling out of his mouth as he twitched against the binds on his wrists and ankles. The child was only 12 years old and hadn’t dreamed of such trauma or pain. Upon the wall a note written in blood “Give up Red Robin or more children will die. 48 10 35” It was in the downtown alley that the boy was hung up and alone.
Catwoman: To say a night in Gotham City was quiet was a falsity - since Gotham was the loudest city she had ever been in - but for Catwoman it was quiet, pleasant and planned out perfectly. No one was there to step in her way, not a single alarm went off as she plucked the shining diamond necklace from the case, and as she slipped it around her neck, felt the rocks slide ice cold across her warm skin beneath her cat suit the quiet shudder of delight that moved through her wasn’t ruined by the clambering of security guards. The wind that brushed against her bare cheeks felt refreshing, even the sounds of horns and sirens on the streets below did nothing to ruin the mood - and as her whip cracked into the night and brought her swinging from one side of the street to the other she gave no pause to the sound of choking, some crackhead no doubt…until the smell of blood hit her. Cautious now, Catwoman landing more quietly on the edge of the roof then slipped down the fire escape.
There was nothing, no words, no footsteps, just that noise and then the gurgle and she landed hard on the pavement and jade eyes found the source. Red covered her vision then, as red as the blood that was leaking from the child’s mouth as she lunged forward, as her clawed gloves cut quickly at the bindings on his ankles, on his wrists, no doubt tearing cloth as she wrapped her arms around him, her cheek pressing to his as she took his weight, careful and fast. “Shh, shh…” Down to the pavement they went, down so she could look him over, those same clawed fingers now snatching at her goggles, yanking them off of her head so she could see his face clearly, so he could see hers. “Shh…” What else was there to say in that moment? “It’s okay, kitten.” A lie? Grabbing her cellphone, she called 911, snarled out the street and let it drop to the pavement and then she looked at the knife. “It’ll be okay.” And then she pulled it out and pressed her hand down firmly on his chest.
The knife was distinct as it was diamond shaped blade, silk bandage wrapped around a stem for a hilt. At the bottom of the hilt was a ring with a floating price tag attached to it marked “$40” on one side and the other spelled “M-A-W” with the fancy design of a local store brand. Upon removing the kunai from the boy’s throat he moaned and shivered loudly as his body was trembling out of fear and coldness. The voice of the 911 dispatch could be heard in the background from the phone. “It hurts…” the boy whined as his rose colored cheeks seemed to indicate he had ran out of tears to shed. In the distance the loud roar of a police siren echoed, not that it was anything new to the city, but the loud rumble of something else took to the scene. A large bright spotlight shot down onto the streets as a police zeppelin flew overhead with four spotlights shooting down onto the alleyway’s nearby to create an incredible amount of light. They began scanning each path for suspicious activity. This light would illuminate the wall as the spotlight fell onto Catwoman and the victim.
“Hold it right there. GCPD. Do not flee or face the consequences of the AVSF. Repeat you are subject to Anti-Vigilante Strike Force jurisdiction stay where you are.” Catwoman would be able to spot that the zeppelin was equipped with large caliber machine gun turrets, far too big for any inner city conflict and that if the police decided to use them; they would probably do more harm than good to the houses below.
Catwoman: The blade was discarded to the side next to the open phone and she shifted the boy gently, pulling off one glove from her hand to press it against his cheek, warm palm to cold skin. “What’s your name?” She asked him quietly, hunkering down a bit over him like a protective animal as she heard the sirens and then with her free hand slowly reached back, claws moving along the pavement until her goggles were captured and held. Green eyes stared down at him even as the loud rumble grew closer and she bit back the questions she wanted to ask. Who, what, why, where could she find the person who did this and… Squinting against the sudden light her goggles were pulled back over her face, smearing blood down her cheek as she tipped her head back, pupils shrinking against the light. “Hell.” The singular curse was spoken softly and as she shifted to bring her eyes back down to the boy the words on the wall, written in that drying crimson caught her attention. “Red Robin…”
It was said barely and then she was clenching her jaw as she grabbed her phone then the blade, tucking them both away into her belt and held that singular hand in the air, the other pressing on the wound to keep down the bleeding. It was like daylight around them, all of the shadows lit up, every nook and cranny of the alleyway visible to whoever was looking down and she brushed her bare thumb against his cheek slowly. “I’m not leaving, don’t you worry kitten. They’ll be here soon to help you.”
Police squad cars screeched to a halt as their roaring engines stopped and four police officers exited their vehicles to arm their guns towards Catwoman and the boy. “Hands up and get on the ground!” The rear officer tapped their shoulder radio. “Dispatch, ETA on that medic? Victim is a young man early teens.” Meanwhile within the Batcave, Batman sat within the seat of his computer as a man spoke. “Gotham City for too long has been crime infested and riddled with vigilantes seeking their own form of justice. We the people of Gotham and the citizens of the United States have a right to take back our city. As Mayor, I have agreed to work closely with Federal Organizations to institute a new crime fighting task force known as the Anti-Vigilante Strike Force. Or as some would call them ‘Arkham Knights’ these strike forces won’t play favorites and won’t allow twisted vigilante’s to pervert the great system that we have had in this city since it’s foundation.”
“Before Batman, Gotham city had an unspoken rule among the police known as ‘No heroes’ which was to set a uniformal standard that no one man is above the law and that by the end of the day, the law and its people are the true heroes. I am Quincy Sharpe, I hope you will join me in opposing this vigilante infestation upon our great city.” Batman’s brooding expression studied the city files upon the new mayor of Gotham City, tracing finances of the man. Batman tapped a button upon the computer. “Oracle note, locate Steve Trevor and Amanda Waller. I need to speak with both of them.” Batman’s attention shifted to the Police band when he heard the details of the situation with Catwoman. He stood up and climbed onto the bat motorcycle, revving the engine the smooth crotch-rocket designed speedster shot out of the batcave and towards the city.
Catwoman: Slowly she pulled her hand away from the face of the boy, neatly manicured nails being tucked back into the long glove as the cars screeched to blocking off one exit route and she made an irritating noise under her breath. “If you’d like me to put my hands up gentlemen, then I suggest one of you walk over here and put your hand down on this child, before he bleeds to death.” The free hand remained in the air, the other one still resting on the boy as she held perfectly still. “Besides, isn’t one Zeppelin and four officers enough to bring in one woman without much trouble?” She watched them through her goggles, her muscles tense but her face relaxed despite the fury in her gaze. Forward was blocked, up would certainly get her riddled with holes and she wasn’t looking to lose any of her lives that evening and if she were taken into custody? Well…there were always ways out of police custody, however leaving with her goggles intact wasn’t ever one of them. “Come on boys, what do you say?” Her voice purred out to them even with the loud thrum of the object above them. Caught wearing a few thousand dollars worth of jewels, holding onto a weapon that was just used on the child in front of her - the quiet night certainly got loud in a hurry.
The officer’s began to surround her one of them holstered their gun to pull out their handcuffs. Within an instant another officer would attempt to tackle and knock Catwoman down onto her stomach another raced to the boy’s aid while the three would attempt surround and keep Catwoman pinned down. If she was pinned they would handcuff her arms behind her back and take off her goggles and mask. If she resisted, well then things would be interesting…Batman would hear on the radio “Dispatch, D022 is closing in 2 minutes, over.” They would follow with report of Catwoman’s situation. “Suspect is found with knife and a firearm. No reason for motive.” The bat motorcycle screamed through the city, his eyes navigating the user interface before him and switched the street lights in his favor of speed.
Catwoman: A breath was taken, and then another as she turned her gaze back down to the boy. “I’ll find who did this to you, kitten, don‘t you worry…” And then there was movement. The officer moved to tackle her and from her crouched position she simply jumped up into the air, letting him fall to the ground and landed hard on his back with those dangerous bladed heels enough for him to feel it. “You should have asked nicely boys.” Twisting around on him, she kicked out harshly, to plant a heel against the officer’s chest with the cuffs in a powerful kick and then rolled forward off of the back of the other, fingers untwisting the whip from around her waist. It gave a sharp crack as it shot out towards the third officer, wrapping around his neck as she stood and she used her elbow to pull against the thick leader and yank him forward towards her and if she managed she would step to the side grabbing his wrist, tightening the whip and spinning him around to facing the fourth officer, twisting his arm up behind his back and using him as shield. “Don‘t you have an attempted murderer to catch?” The woman would speak against his ear in that same purr, red lipstick brushing off along the rim of it.
There was only one officer left aiding the boy as Catwoman dispatched the three. “You should reconsider doing this…You’re an outstanding criminal with a history of violence. Killing a child on your record is not something you want. If you surrender we can go through this like adults.” The leader whom Catwoman held hostage growled. “You can run but you can’t hide…Pussy…cat.” It was at this time the loud scream of the Bat motorcycle could be heard not too far in the distance; maybe two blocks away as the sound of sonic screeching bats echoed from its engine rather than the loud pitch of a typical motorcycle. The large flood light beaming down onto Crime scene suddenly shut off and all of the lights within the zeppelin went dark. The street lights shut off plunging the area into darkness.
Catwoman: “Thanks, handsome,” Her voice purred out still and she jerked the officer’s hand up higher on his back painfully. “But I’ll take my chances that the kid is going to live and I’ll be free to run another day.” Catwoman moved backwards towards the mouth of the alley, dragging the officer with her as she went, continuing to use him as a shield towards the one taking care of the child and even pressing firmly against his back to avoid any fire from the zeppelin above. She heard the noise, familiar and for once thanked her lucky stars that his timing seemed to suit her just fine, even if she was wearing the heavy diamonds and now about to be charged with murder. “Let’s see how well you can run now, hm?” She pressed her lips to the cheek of the officer and then kicked the back of his leg hard with her heel, no doubt puncturing through the calf of his jeans in a superficial but painful wound and shoved him forward away from her just as the lights above went out. The dark haired woman turned quickly on her heel then, hand reaching up to her goggles to adjust her night vision and as she ran out onto the street she held her arm out, waiting for it to be grabbed so she could swing her way onto the back of the motorcycle - if that was his plan. “Took you long enough.”
The batpod squealed as it approached, slowing down he would hold his arm out to grab onto Catwoman and swing her to climb onto his back. “Tell me everything that happened and describe the crime scene.” Were Batman’s words as he concentrated on navigating the streets. A radar scanner of the area would detect police vehicles attempting to close in and trap Batman, but with ease the Dark Knight maneuvered and escaped any potential capture. Soon enough Batman would be on the rooftops with his attention on Catwoman with a white gaze and a stoic expression upon his face. Oil colored palettes painting his silhouette that meshed with the eclipsing buildings that barred the moonlight and street lamps from reaching the upper levels of the city apartments.
Catwoman Her hand clasped his and she jumped as he pulled, swinging her leg over the bike and wrapping her arms around his core, holding on firmly. When he demanded information the feline simply laid her face against the back of his shoulder and shifted her knees so they were squeezing against the outside armor of his hips to secure herself more as he maneuvered. “Get us out of here, then we’ll talk.” How could a child that small produce so much blood and still be alive? Was he still alive? When they arrived on the rooftops she watched him, her already pale face having an unusual lack of color even for her with a smear of dried blood down her cheek. Her gloves were covered in that child’s blood, in the evidence of a crime that she certainly didn’t commit. That stoic expression was met with angry jade eyes when she reached up and shoved her goggles free from her face, pushing them up into her hair. “Did you know about this?” -
Catwoman The tone was accusatory first, irrational and then she looked away as she pulled the knife out from the back of her belt and tossed it to him. “It was sticking out of his neck, I found him in the alley when I,” She simply smirked. “I just found him.” Then the smirk was gone and she was stepping up to him. “He was just a kid Bruce.” She breathed out his name softly then shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest, her cellphone held tightly in one hand with a picture of the writing on the wall she hadn’t given him yet.
Her question prompted him to be annoyed only slightly, to which he replied honestly but tried not to remove his stoic personae. “Of course I didn’t know. I heard about the situation from the police radio traffic…” He saw the knife and squinted taking it gently to analyze it. “This was the murder weapon?” Batman examined it and its definite unique design it would appear to have a recurved blade arching it with an angle halfway up its length. “Tiger Tooth blade…Native to India. I can scan this and hopefully narrow down local shops that could have access to this kind of weaponry.” Batman’s white lenses folded over his eyes activating detective mode to scan the design and analyze it for finger prints...Batman’s chin stiffened to control himself - analyze the blade Batman could determine the victim died painfully and suffering - he was meant to be left alive long enough to be found in his condition. [c]
Batman wouldn’t convey this information to Catwoman, however, as the burden of the boy’s death wasn’t something he wanted to put onto her conscience and given she was there for the boy’s last few moments alive, she probably already knew his suffering. This person was a cold blooded killer and experienced with knives and human anatomy.
Catwoman “I don’t care where it came from. Just tell me who it belongs to.” Her voice was quick to cut in tone and she turned her gaze away from him, looking across the rooftops in the direction they had come from. “Is he dead?” Another soft question and then she was tightening her grip on her phone. “Catwoman, the killer of children. Gotham PD is going to love rolling in this new title of mine, by morning it‘ll be all over the City.” She shifted then and turned her eyes back to him and stepped up closer, well in range of being able to reach out and touch him. “I didn’t kill that child.” The dark haired woman knew she didn’t have to tell him that, but she had to say it at least once, to someone who’d believe her because as it would stand there was no one else in the world who would. -
Catwoman Body shifted and the heavy diamond necklace nestled between her breasts in her partially unzipped suit glittered in the light that reached the rooftops and then she was holding out her phone to him, clawed fingers tapping the screen lightly. “This was on the wall. It seems that someone is interested in one of your baby birds.” There was mild concern there, not too much though, not at the moment…but how many more children were going to be injured or worse because someone had it out for a Robin?
“I know you didn’t…But the fact the weapon is a *tiger tooth* it’s a little too coincidental that you should be the one to find the body…It’s possible someone is trying to set you up and this has nothing to do with Robin. Contrary to popular belief…Blood is not an effective means to write a message - it dries and darkens quickly…Against a brick or stone wall? You’ll have maybe 4-6 hours before it oxidizes and is unnoticeable unless you’re specifically looking for it. With Gotham’s pollution and graffiti it would further mask the message. Still…” Batman placed the knife into an plastic bag and pulled out his cryptographic sequencer to begin typing in the numbers “48 10 35.” Immediately the sequencer began to locate a spot within Gotham city that the coordinates matched. “GPS coordinates…Hm.” Batman would frown as he was considering whether they should investigate the location. [c]
“The police will figure out these coordinates - they might be working their way there now - or soon once they’ve given up searching for us.” His cape moved with him as he approached the edge of the building to look at a zeppelin in the distance floating over the city with search lights beaming down. “Mayor Sharp is pushing this Arkham Knight program and he’s proposing an Arkham City plan.” Batman would shift glance to her. “It’s not too late to retire, you know?”
Catwoman A look passed over her face, something dangerous and angry as her green eyes glittered with it at the realization he was mapping out for her. Tiger tooth, and the maiming of a child, all to set her up? What in the hell was the point of that? She was for hire, and better yet all they had to do was ask the right people if they wanted an audience with her - she wasn’t shy. Arms uncrossed and her phone was tucked away into a pouch in her utility belt and she watched him place the knife in the bag. At his frown she leaned to look to see the numbers for herself and then looked up at him. “Where does it lead?” She’d get a damn map if she had to and then he was moving and she was moving after him with, hip swaying strides, the lights from the zeppelin in the distance catching her attention for a moment. “I can understand the GCPD cracking down a little harder, but what nut job thought up the floating balloons with machine guns?” -
Catwoman She smirked then, shaking her head lightly and glanced at him in return. “Awe, feeling tired already, handsome?” Tongue clicking softly against the roof of her mouth a few times she reached out with a single clawed finger and brushed it along his exposed cheek lightly. “I’ll help keep you young.” And then she was stepping off of the building into a free fall down towards the vehicle. “Faster than running rooftops!” She called up past her in the rush of wind as her flexible body easily navigated down safely amongst the fire escape until her dangerous heels hit the pavement.
He followed her down and didn’t comment on her statement of youth but, the thoughts of this whole thing did keep his mind circling - a detective’s instinct of always asking questions and always trying to understand meticulous details that didn’t fit with the picture. Like, how did the murderer know Catwoman would be in the area? How were they sure no one else would see them? How did they butcher a child and write the message before Catwoman would find it? Where did they escape to? Catwoman must’ve literally arrived the moment the killer left the scene otherwise the frame job wouldn’t work. The coordinates lead to a pharmacy that was the size of a small corner store - a large laminated sign “RX” posted on the front. Batman parked the batpod in front of the building and got off the vehicle to approach the front door and stepped inside to look around. [c]
The space was cramped with a counter by the door for checking out. A small chime played as the door opened and a sterile smell filled the room. Within Batman’s cowl his eye navigated a search protocol on the building and immediately its licensing information and head pharmacist appeared on his heads up display within his cowl - it was an older man with a prior in theft and a B&E. The man would approach from a backroom and pause. “Uhh…Can I help you?” Batman would look around and then ask. “I want to see a list of your inventory.” “I can’t--“ Batman would slam his fist onto the counter creating a dent within its surface. “Now!” “Alright! Please don’t hurt me…” The man turned the computer screen to show Batman the list of inventory items to which Batman began to scan through it. [c]
“Here, I want to see your entire inventory of Hyoscine hydrobromide.” “Wait, why?” the pharmacist would protest before Batman leered at him some more. “Sleeping pills and mental suggestion drugs were found in my victim. You have a record of theft and B&E. Who’s to say you’re not selling drugs under the counter?” “Coming from the guy who works with Catwoman!” sniped the pharmacist, but at the moment he finished his quip Batman grabbed the man by the back of the head and slammed him down onto the counter. “A young boy died in an alley tonight. You want me to leave? I want vengeance.”
Story By: Batman and Catwoman
Heroes: Batman, Catwoman, Red Robin
Villains: Quincy Sharpe, Tiger Moth, Penumbra, The Sensei, Lady Shiva
Plot: A mysterious note is left at a crime scene demanding Red Robin and his allies give him up to an unknown person. The timing couldn't be worse as Gotham's new mayor is pushing an Anti-vigilante movement of which this ransom letter becomes the center of criticism of Gotham's vigilante's. Batman and Catwoman seek justice while avoiding the authorities and the ever elusive conspirator.
He gagged and choked upon his blood; a torture technique that was barbaric and inhumane but, what was the point? The victim was a child with a knife puncturing his lung while his arms were stretched out in a crucifix pose. He hung from a simple chain linked fence gagging and struggling to survive. He wanted to sleep, but the pain wouldn’t let him. He would’ve bled out had someone not stabbed him in just the precise manner in which no blood would be able to escape the body. So there the boy hung choking with a sharp pain in his chest, blood filling up his throat and drooling out of his mouth as he twitched against the binds on his wrists and ankles. The child was only 12 years old and hadn’t dreamed of such trauma or pain. Upon the wall a note written in blood “Give up Red Robin or more children will die. 48 10 35” It was in the downtown alley that the boy was hung up and alone.
Catwoman: To say a night in Gotham City was quiet was a falsity - since Gotham was the loudest city she had ever been in - but for Catwoman it was quiet, pleasant and planned out perfectly. No one was there to step in her way, not a single alarm went off as she plucked the shining diamond necklace from the case, and as she slipped it around her neck, felt the rocks slide ice cold across her warm skin beneath her cat suit the quiet shudder of delight that moved through her wasn’t ruined by the clambering of security guards. The wind that brushed against her bare cheeks felt refreshing, even the sounds of horns and sirens on the streets below did nothing to ruin the mood - and as her whip cracked into the night and brought her swinging from one side of the street to the other she gave no pause to the sound of choking, some crackhead no doubt…until the smell of blood hit her. Cautious now, Catwoman landing more quietly on the edge of the roof then slipped down the fire escape.
There was nothing, no words, no footsteps, just that noise and then the gurgle and she landed hard on the pavement and jade eyes found the source. Red covered her vision then, as red as the blood that was leaking from the child’s mouth as she lunged forward, as her clawed gloves cut quickly at the bindings on his ankles, on his wrists, no doubt tearing cloth as she wrapped her arms around him, her cheek pressing to his as she took his weight, careful and fast. “Shh, shh…” Down to the pavement they went, down so she could look him over, those same clawed fingers now snatching at her goggles, yanking them off of her head so she could see his face clearly, so he could see hers. “Shh…” What else was there to say in that moment? “It’s okay, kitten.” A lie? Grabbing her cellphone, she called 911, snarled out the street and let it drop to the pavement and then she looked at the knife. “It’ll be okay.” And then she pulled it out and pressed her hand down firmly on his chest.
The knife was distinct as it was diamond shaped blade, silk bandage wrapped around a stem for a hilt. At the bottom of the hilt was a ring with a floating price tag attached to it marked “$40” on one side and the other spelled “M-A-W” with the fancy design of a local store brand. Upon removing the kunai from the boy’s throat he moaned and shivered loudly as his body was trembling out of fear and coldness. The voice of the 911 dispatch could be heard in the background from the phone. “It hurts…” the boy whined as his rose colored cheeks seemed to indicate he had ran out of tears to shed. In the distance the loud roar of a police siren echoed, not that it was anything new to the city, but the loud rumble of something else took to the scene. A large bright spotlight shot down onto the streets as a police zeppelin flew overhead with four spotlights shooting down onto the alleyway’s nearby to create an incredible amount of light. They began scanning each path for suspicious activity. This light would illuminate the wall as the spotlight fell onto Catwoman and the victim.
“Hold it right there. GCPD. Do not flee or face the consequences of the AVSF. Repeat you are subject to Anti-Vigilante Strike Force jurisdiction stay where you are.” Catwoman would be able to spot that the zeppelin was equipped with large caliber machine gun turrets, far too big for any inner city conflict and that if the police decided to use them; they would probably do more harm than good to the houses below.
Catwoman: The blade was discarded to the side next to the open phone and she shifted the boy gently, pulling off one glove from her hand to press it against his cheek, warm palm to cold skin. “What’s your name?” She asked him quietly, hunkering down a bit over him like a protective animal as she heard the sirens and then with her free hand slowly reached back, claws moving along the pavement until her goggles were captured and held. Green eyes stared down at him even as the loud rumble grew closer and she bit back the questions she wanted to ask. Who, what, why, where could she find the person who did this and… Squinting against the sudden light her goggles were pulled back over her face, smearing blood down her cheek as she tipped her head back, pupils shrinking against the light. “Hell.” The singular curse was spoken softly and as she shifted to bring her eyes back down to the boy the words on the wall, written in that drying crimson caught her attention. “Red Robin…”
It was said barely and then she was clenching her jaw as she grabbed her phone then the blade, tucking them both away into her belt and held that singular hand in the air, the other pressing on the wound to keep down the bleeding. It was like daylight around them, all of the shadows lit up, every nook and cranny of the alleyway visible to whoever was looking down and she brushed her bare thumb against his cheek slowly. “I’m not leaving, don’t you worry kitten. They’ll be here soon to help you.”
Police squad cars screeched to a halt as their roaring engines stopped and four police officers exited their vehicles to arm their guns towards Catwoman and the boy. “Hands up and get on the ground!” The rear officer tapped their shoulder radio. “Dispatch, ETA on that medic? Victim is a young man early teens.” Meanwhile within the Batcave, Batman sat within the seat of his computer as a man spoke. “Gotham City for too long has been crime infested and riddled with vigilantes seeking their own form of justice. We the people of Gotham and the citizens of the United States have a right to take back our city. As Mayor, I have agreed to work closely with Federal Organizations to institute a new crime fighting task force known as the Anti-Vigilante Strike Force. Or as some would call them ‘Arkham Knights’ these strike forces won’t play favorites and won’t allow twisted vigilante’s to pervert the great system that we have had in this city since it’s foundation.”
“Before Batman, Gotham city had an unspoken rule among the police known as ‘No heroes’ which was to set a uniformal standard that no one man is above the law and that by the end of the day, the law and its people are the true heroes. I am Quincy Sharpe, I hope you will join me in opposing this vigilante infestation upon our great city.” Batman’s brooding expression studied the city files upon the new mayor of Gotham City, tracing finances of the man. Batman tapped a button upon the computer. “Oracle note, locate Steve Trevor and Amanda Waller. I need to speak with both of them.” Batman’s attention shifted to the Police band when he heard the details of the situation with Catwoman. He stood up and climbed onto the bat motorcycle, revving the engine the smooth crotch-rocket designed speedster shot out of the batcave and towards the city.
Catwoman: Slowly she pulled her hand away from the face of the boy, neatly manicured nails being tucked back into the long glove as the cars screeched to blocking off one exit route and she made an irritating noise under her breath. “If you’d like me to put my hands up gentlemen, then I suggest one of you walk over here and put your hand down on this child, before he bleeds to death.” The free hand remained in the air, the other one still resting on the boy as she held perfectly still. “Besides, isn’t one Zeppelin and four officers enough to bring in one woman without much trouble?” She watched them through her goggles, her muscles tense but her face relaxed despite the fury in her gaze. Forward was blocked, up would certainly get her riddled with holes and she wasn’t looking to lose any of her lives that evening and if she were taken into custody? Well…there were always ways out of police custody, however leaving with her goggles intact wasn’t ever one of them. “Come on boys, what do you say?” Her voice purred out to them even with the loud thrum of the object above them. Caught wearing a few thousand dollars worth of jewels, holding onto a weapon that was just used on the child in front of her - the quiet night certainly got loud in a hurry.
The officer’s began to surround her one of them holstered their gun to pull out their handcuffs. Within an instant another officer would attempt to tackle and knock Catwoman down onto her stomach another raced to the boy’s aid while the three would attempt surround and keep Catwoman pinned down. If she was pinned they would handcuff her arms behind her back and take off her goggles and mask. If she resisted, well then things would be interesting…Batman would hear on the radio “Dispatch, D022 is closing in 2 minutes, over.” They would follow with report of Catwoman’s situation. “Suspect is found with knife and a firearm. No reason for motive.” The bat motorcycle screamed through the city, his eyes navigating the user interface before him and switched the street lights in his favor of speed.
Catwoman: A breath was taken, and then another as she turned her gaze back down to the boy. “I’ll find who did this to you, kitten, don‘t you worry…” And then there was movement. The officer moved to tackle her and from her crouched position she simply jumped up into the air, letting him fall to the ground and landed hard on his back with those dangerous bladed heels enough for him to feel it. “You should have asked nicely boys.” Twisting around on him, she kicked out harshly, to plant a heel against the officer’s chest with the cuffs in a powerful kick and then rolled forward off of the back of the other, fingers untwisting the whip from around her waist. It gave a sharp crack as it shot out towards the third officer, wrapping around his neck as she stood and she used her elbow to pull against the thick leader and yank him forward towards her and if she managed she would step to the side grabbing his wrist, tightening the whip and spinning him around to facing the fourth officer, twisting his arm up behind his back and using him as shield. “Don‘t you have an attempted murderer to catch?” The woman would speak against his ear in that same purr, red lipstick brushing off along the rim of it.
There was only one officer left aiding the boy as Catwoman dispatched the three. “You should reconsider doing this…You’re an outstanding criminal with a history of violence. Killing a child on your record is not something you want. If you surrender we can go through this like adults.” The leader whom Catwoman held hostage growled. “You can run but you can’t hide…Pussy…cat.” It was at this time the loud scream of the Bat motorcycle could be heard not too far in the distance; maybe two blocks away as the sound of sonic screeching bats echoed from its engine rather than the loud pitch of a typical motorcycle. The large flood light beaming down onto Crime scene suddenly shut off and all of the lights within the zeppelin went dark. The street lights shut off plunging the area into darkness.
Catwoman: “Thanks, handsome,” Her voice purred out still and she jerked the officer’s hand up higher on his back painfully. “But I’ll take my chances that the kid is going to live and I’ll be free to run another day.” Catwoman moved backwards towards the mouth of the alley, dragging the officer with her as she went, continuing to use him as a shield towards the one taking care of the child and even pressing firmly against his back to avoid any fire from the zeppelin above. She heard the noise, familiar and for once thanked her lucky stars that his timing seemed to suit her just fine, even if she was wearing the heavy diamonds and now about to be charged with murder. “Let’s see how well you can run now, hm?” She pressed her lips to the cheek of the officer and then kicked the back of his leg hard with her heel, no doubt puncturing through the calf of his jeans in a superficial but painful wound and shoved him forward away from her just as the lights above went out. The dark haired woman turned quickly on her heel then, hand reaching up to her goggles to adjust her night vision and as she ran out onto the street she held her arm out, waiting for it to be grabbed so she could swing her way onto the back of the motorcycle - if that was his plan. “Took you long enough.”
The batpod squealed as it approached, slowing down he would hold his arm out to grab onto Catwoman and swing her to climb onto his back. “Tell me everything that happened and describe the crime scene.” Were Batman’s words as he concentrated on navigating the streets. A radar scanner of the area would detect police vehicles attempting to close in and trap Batman, but with ease the Dark Knight maneuvered and escaped any potential capture. Soon enough Batman would be on the rooftops with his attention on Catwoman with a white gaze and a stoic expression upon his face. Oil colored palettes painting his silhouette that meshed with the eclipsing buildings that barred the moonlight and street lamps from reaching the upper levels of the city apartments.
Catwoman Her hand clasped his and she jumped as he pulled, swinging her leg over the bike and wrapping her arms around his core, holding on firmly. When he demanded information the feline simply laid her face against the back of his shoulder and shifted her knees so they were squeezing against the outside armor of his hips to secure herself more as he maneuvered. “Get us out of here, then we’ll talk.” How could a child that small produce so much blood and still be alive? Was he still alive? When they arrived on the rooftops she watched him, her already pale face having an unusual lack of color even for her with a smear of dried blood down her cheek. Her gloves were covered in that child’s blood, in the evidence of a crime that she certainly didn’t commit. That stoic expression was met with angry jade eyes when she reached up and shoved her goggles free from her face, pushing them up into her hair. “Did you know about this?” -
Catwoman The tone was accusatory first, irrational and then she looked away as she pulled the knife out from the back of her belt and tossed it to him. “It was sticking out of his neck, I found him in the alley when I,” She simply smirked. “I just found him.” Then the smirk was gone and she was stepping up to him. “He was just a kid Bruce.” She breathed out his name softly then shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest, her cellphone held tightly in one hand with a picture of the writing on the wall she hadn’t given him yet.
Her question prompted him to be annoyed only slightly, to which he replied honestly but tried not to remove his stoic personae. “Of course I didn’t know. I heard about the situation from the police radio traffic…” He saw the knife and squinted taking it gently to analyze it. “This was the murder weapon?” Batman examined it and its definite unique design it would appear to have a recurved blade arching it with an angle halfway up its length. “Tiger Tooth blade…Native to India. I can scan this and hopefully narrow down local shops that could have access to this kind of weaponry.” Batman’s white lenses folded over his eyes activating detective mode to scan the design and analyze it for finger prints...Batman’s chin stiffened to control himself - analyze the blade Batman could determine the victim died painfully and suffering - he was meant to be left alive long enough to be found in his condition. [c]
Batman wouldn’t convey this information to Catwoman, however, as the burden of the boy’s death wasn’t something he wanted to put onto her conscience and given she was there for the boy’s last few moments alive, she probably already knew his suffering. This person was a cold blooded killer and experienced with knives and human anatomy.
Catwoman “I don’t care where it came from. Just tell me who it belongs to.” Her voice was quick to cut in tone and she turned her gaze away from him, looking across the rooftops in the direction they had come from. “Is he dead?” Another soft question and then she was tightening her grip on her phone. “Catwoman, the killer of children. Gotham PD is going to love rolling in this new title of mine, by morning it‘ll be all over the City.” She shifted then and turned her eyes back to him and stepped up closer, well in range of being able to reach out and touch him. “I didn’t kill that child.” The dark haired woman knew she didn’t have to tell him that, but she had to say it at least once, to someone who’d believe her because as it would stand there was no one else in the world who would. -
Catwoman Body shifted and the heavy diamond necklace nestled between her breasts in her partially unzipped suit glittered in the light that reached the rooftops and then she was holding out her phone to him, clawed fingers tapping the screen lightly. “This was on the wall. It seems that someone is interested in one of your baby birds.” There was mild concern there, not too much though, not at the moment…but how many more children were going to be injured or worse because someone had it out for a Robin?
“I know you didn’t…But the fact the weapon is a *tiger tooth* it’s a little too coincidental that you should be the one to find the body…It’s possible someone is trying to set you up and this has nothing to do with Robin. Contrary to popular belief…Blood is not an effective means to write a message - it dries and darkens quickly…Against a brick or stone wall? You’ll have maybe 4-6 hours before it oxidizes and is unnoticeable unless you’re specifically looking for it. With Gotham’s pollution and graffiti it would further mask the message. Still…” Batman placed the knife into an plastic bag and pulled out his cryptographic sequencer to begin typing in the numbers “48 10 35.” Immediately the sequencer began to locate a spot within Gotham city that the coordinates matched. “GPS coordinates…Hm.” Batman would frown as he was considering whether they should investigate the location. [c]
“The police will figure out these coordinates - they might be working their way there now - or soon once they’ve given up searching for us.” His cape moved with him as he approached the edge of the building to look at a zeppelin in the distance floating over the city with search lights beaming down. “Mayor Sharp is pushing this Arkham Knight program and he’s proposing an Arkham City plan.” Batman would shift glance to her. “It’s not too late to retire, you know?”
Catwoman A look passed over her face, something dangerous and angry as her green eyes glittered with it at the realization he was mapping out for her. Tiger tooth, and the maiming of a child, all to set her up? What in the hell was the point of that? She was for hire, and better yet all they had to do was ask the right people if they wanted an audience with her - she wasn’t shy. Arms uncrossed and her phone was tucked away into a pouch in her utility belt and she watched him place the knife in the bag. At his frown she leaned to look to see the numbers for herself and then looked up at him. “Where does it lead?” She’d get a damn map if she had to and then he was moving and she was moving after him with, hip swaying strides, the lights from the zeppelin in the distance catching her attention for a moment. “I can understand the GCPD cracking down a little harder, but what nut job thought up the floating balloons with machine guns?” -
Catwoman She smirked then, shaking her head lightly and glanced at him in return. “Awe, feeling tired already, handsome?” Tongue clicking softly against the roof of her mouth a few times she reached out with a single clawed finger and brushed it along his exposed cheek lightly. “I’ll help keep you young.” And then she was stepping off of the building into a free fall down towards the vehicle. “Faster than running rooftops!” She called up past her in the rush of wind as her flexible body easily navigated down safely amongst the fire escape until her dangerous heels hit the pavement.
He followed her down and didn’t comment on her statement of youth but, the thoughts of this whole thing did keep his mind circling - a detective’s instinct of always asking questions and always trying to understand meticulous details that didn’t fit with the picture. Like, how did the murderer know Catwoman would be in the area? How were they sure no one else would see them? How did they butcher a child and write the message before Catwoman would find it? Where did they escape to? Catwoman must’ve literally arrived the moment the killer left the scene otherwise the frame job wouldn’t work. The coordinates lead to a pharmacy that was the size of a small corner store - a large laminated sign “RX” posted on the front. Batman parked the batpod in front of the building and got off the vehicle to approach the front door and stepped inside to look around. [c]
The space was cramped with a counter by the door for checking out. A small chime played as the door opened and a sterile smell filled the room. Within Batman’s cowl his eye navigated a search protocol on the building and immediately its licensing information and head pharmacist appeared on his heads up display within his cowl - it was an older man with a prior in theft and a B&E. The man would approach from a backroom and pause. “Uhh…Can I help you?” Batman would look around and then ask. “I want to see a list of your inventory.” “I can’t--“ Batman would slam his fist onto the counter creating a dent within its surface. “Now!” “Alright! Please don’t hurt me…” The man turned the computer screen to show Batman the list of inventory items to which Batman began to scan through it. [c]
“Here, I want to see your entire inventory of Hyoscine hydrobromide.” “Wait, why?” the pharmacist would protest before Batman leered at him some more. “Sleeping pills and mental suggestion drugs were found in my victim. You have a record of theft and B&E. Who’s to say you’re not selling drugs under the counter?” “Coming from the guy who works with Catwoman!” sniped the pharmacist, but at the moment he finished his quip Batman grabbed the man by the back of the head and slammed him down onto the counter. “A young boy died in an alley tonight. You want me to leave? I want vengeance.”