Batman Beyond: The Hunted

by RyokoMist

Innocents are being spliced, hunted and murdered:& Max is next on the list! With her new abilites she decides its time to help Terry other than from the sidelines. But first, can Terry save Max in time or will she wind up like the others: dead? Terry/Max

2. Chapter 2

note from author: Hi everybody, sorry I took so long, but I had writer's block. I hope you all enjoy this sencond chapter and I will try not to be so long with the third chapter. This chapter might seem to jump around a bit, but I was getting anxious in getting to the good parts, sooooo...anyways, here's chapter 2 of Batman Beyon: The Hunted

The next day Terry has to nearly drag himself to school. He was worn out emotionally, physically and mentally. All night he had been battling in his mind what had happened at Max's. Terry shakes his head, still not believing that he had almost made love to his own best friend…that's right. He didn't want to have sex with her; he wanted to make LOVE to her! The palm of his hand slaps his forehead. How could he do something like that? And to make matters worse: when he returned back to Wayne Manor the young Batman had regrettably told Bruce what had happened. Bruce had asked him, "You look roughed up. What happened?" He had noticed his apprentice's expression of pain and the bandage placed delicately around his side.

Terry had sighed and leaned against the computer. "I fucked up Bruce…big time."

Wayne narrows his eyes. "You saw the murderer and let him get away? McGinnis-"

"I almost slept with Max." Terry squeezes his eyes shut and grits his teeth. The silence that immediately filled the Bat Cave was stifling. A hand suddenly grabs his shoulder and turns the boy around, slamming his back against the keyboard of the computer. Terry gives a gasp and hiss of the pain that shot and burned through his wound. Bruce eyes McGinnis with such ferocity that Terry isn't sure what was directly happening. It then clicks in his head as the old man continues to look at him angrily. Even though Bruce never said anything directly, Max was like a daughter he never had (Terry was like a son to him as well). Despite the fact that they couldn't stand each other when they first met, the two had developed a strong bond, a deep respect for one another as people. The old man later realized how happy he was to have Max join them in their vigilantism. And just like Terry, he was overprotective of her and refused to allow Max to think about wearing the suit. It was a strange thing the connection he shared with the two teens. To the people of Gotham, Bruce Wayne had become an old and cruel and expressionless man; the complete opposite of what he had been younger. But to Max and Terry he was human, a person who had a crevice of compassion for those who needed help; he was like father. And to put it simply, Bruce didn't appreciate the moves Terry had put on his "daughter". The thought of them doing something like that pissed the old man off! He knew the heartache that women felt when dealing with the men who wore the suit…he didn't want to see Max in that kind of pain. Yet the fact that he had attacked Terry showed that Bruce could sense that she already was hurting. Terry hurt Max; Wayne didn't like it.

"How dare you," Bruce says angrily, the strength in his old fingers returning as he clutches into Terry's skin.

"Bruce," Terry explains, "I'm sorry. But I love her. I need to be with her. Since when is that wrong?"

"It's wrong when you hurt your best friend." Bruce releases his hold and steps off the young teen. He could tell that Terry wasn't lying about being in love with Max, but it didn't make things any better. He could picture Max in a dark corner in her room crying her little eyes out.

Terry straightens his posture and places a hand on his wounded side; not because it hurt, although the pain was killing him, but because that's where Max had touched him. He could still feel the warmth of her body against his. Terry lowers his eyes as he continues, "I hurt her bad Bruce. Dana called and…" he doesn't continue. Bruce sighs out, already knowing what had happened. Terry spent the rest of the time telling Bruce about Max's past and beating his self up for being so stupid. Max had needed him more than ever but he wound up betraying and breaking her heart. For Max to even release that much emotion towards anyone is what killed Terry the most. She had let herself become open with him (even if it was slightly) and he crushed her. "Bruce," Terry says, sitting on the table and holding his head down in shame, "I love Max. I guess I always did, but I really messed things up. She says she doesn't want to be with me anymore and I'm not sure I can make it without her."

Bruce narrows his eyes and turns towards the steps leading to the mansion. "Liar." Terry lifts his head up rapidly in shock. "You're so selfish McGinnis. If you ask me, I applaud her for wanting to leave you. You're using her for your own desires."

"That's not true!" Terry disputes angrily, leaping from the table and balling his fists.

"Oh really?" Bruce asks. He turns his body slightly so he can see Terry. "If you really loved her, then why are you here right now? If you really loved Max so much, you wouldn't have let her walk away from you. You'd be on your hands and knees begging for her to forgive and take you back. If you really loved Max, then you wouldn't have been able to hurt her and watch her cry and leave, and then try to come here and get pity from me…you don't love Max. Because if you did, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. You would've held on to her and made her realize what she means to you. You would be making passionate love to her right now in the bed, on the couch, wherever. And if she wouldn't let you do that, then she'd be in your arms, in a fiery embrace of passion. You'd be by her side right now kissing her forehead and apologizing for being late in telling the truth…" Bruce sighs as he stops briefly and heads up the stairs. He had been talking to Terry partially, but the words that he expressed were the inner turmoil's that he regretted concerning his past. "You don't love Max."

Terry pauses for a moment. Bruce was right, but he didn't want to accept that. "I DO LOVE HER!" he yells as he pounds his hand against his chest.

Bruce stands in the door way at the top of the steps and says, believing that Terry was telling the truth, "Then you should be doing something about it." Without another word, Bruce had disappeared, leaving his apprentice alone.

Terry huffs out in frustration as he approaches the school building. Everything Wayne had said to him that night did nothing but make him feel worse for what had happened. "Hey McGinnis!" a voice calls. Nelson jogs next to Terry and they slap hands. Ever since the school had been held hostage the two had become pretty good friends. Nelson asks, "Have you seen Max?"

"She's not here?" Terry asks quizzically. She was never late.

"No one's seen her. I wanted to say thanks for the help. I pulled a 'B' on my ChemiBio test. Looks like I'm still on the team for the semester. If you see her, can you tell her that?"

Terry frowns at the remembrance of last night: Max's figure leaving out the door, fighting tears as she said goodbye. "I don't think so. We got in a huge fight yesterday. She doesn't want…to talk to me." He couldn't bring himself to explain that she didn't want to be friends anymore.

Nelson places a reassuring hand on Terry's shoulder. "Sounds rough dude. Sorry." The bell rings and Nash runs for the steps. "Don't sweat it. It's gonna be okay," he yells. Easier said than done.

As the school day progresses however there is still no sign of Max. It doesn't seem to bother Terry too much. He simply figured that she was so pissed and hurt that she didn't want to come to school; which pained McGinnis even more considering that he was the reason for her anguish. But when the senior girl doesn't show up the next day the young Batman knows something is wrong. It wasn't like Max to shirk her studies, no matter how pissed off she was. All day he's on edge, trying to put together what was going on. By the last class of the day McGinnis is so tense he puts his head down and completely ignores everything; the memories of that night burning at his brain. He tried to convince himself that he was just over-reacting. But when Commissioner Gordon appears in the doorway, all his worry seems to reach its climax. The teacher acknowledges politely, "Good afternoon Commissioner." Many of the students become immediately attentive and alert, slipping things into their book bags and jackets. Barbara closes her eyes and shakes her head wearily. Why did they have to be so obvious? She couldn't really complain much; it just made the job easier for her and her men. But Barbara gathers her thoughts. She wasn't here for that. Her eyes become aware of Terry standing up in the corner.

Barbara states, "Yep. You're just the kid I need to see McGinnis. Follow me to the Principals Office." She turns and begins to walk down the hall, not at all shocked that Terry races in stride with her.

"What's wrong Commish?" Terry asks nervously, ignoring the students in the hall staring at them.

"We'll talk about it when we meet up with Bruce."

"Bruce's here?" Terry wonders curiously. "What's up?" But Gordon remains silent and McGinnis tries to keep himself calm for the moment. Patience wasn't his forte'. They round the hall and come to the main office. The secretary says, "They're waiting for you Commissioner Gordon."

"Thank you." The secretary gives Terry a sorrowful look before returning to her own paperwork. The two walk into the Principal's Office and close the door behind him. Terry examines the faces before him: The Principal and Vice Principal, two cops and Bruce and Barbara.

"Terry," Bruce says in sober restraint, "why don't you have a seat?"

McGinnis shakes his head. His hands begin to visibly tremble in fear. "I'll pass. What's happened?" He was growing tired of the delays; he wanted to get to the point as quickly as possible in hopes to stop the worry he was feeling.

The Vice Principal begins, "Mr. Wayne suggested we tell you this first. He said that it would be best if you found out this way before we make the announcement."

"Find out what?" No one answers and Terry slams his fist against the wall. "Slaggit! Find out what?"

Gordon clears her throat. "It's about your best friend Max." McGinnis's heart drops and he stares at her with a confused worry on his expression. "She's missing."

"What?" Terry shakes his head in disbelief. That – wasn't possible.

"An eye-witness came forward this morning," an officer continues. "Two nights ago around midnight, Maxine Gibson was walking down the street when she was surrounded and harassed by a group of Jokerz. The eye witness, who is an elderly man, went to call the police when he heard a scream, apparently from the victim -,"

"She's not a victim!" Terry yells angrily. He couldn't stand that word – it made it sound like Max was lying dead in a tunnel somewhere.

The officer continues, "—and laughter. By the time the old man got back to the window there was no one in sight. When the vict—" he pauses as the teen boy shoots him a dirty look, "—Gibson never returned back home, the man decided to call us."

The principal looks carefully at Terry and says, "We wanted to let you know first before announcing it to the school." Terry says nothing. His mind is reeling, his thoughts darting all over the place. Max. Taken by Jokerz? Two nights ago at midnight – that was exactly after their fight. His legs begin to grow weak and McGinnis falls into a nearby chair and buries his head into the palm of his hands. How stupid of him! Why didn't he stop her? Terry hits his head. If he loved her so much why didn't he fight? Why didn't he wrestle her from the door? The idea of Max being with a ruthless gang made Terry so sick to the stomach he wanted to vomit. There was no telling what they had done to her – what they were doing to her. He had heard about victims being molested and raped by the teen gangs and just left for dead. Terry clenches his fist together in hatred. If Max was less than perfectly whole in mind, body and spirit, he would kill them all. Fuck the whole, "Preserve the life of Gotham" shit that Batman was suppose to follow. He was vengeance, the Dark Knight, and he would destroy anything and anyone for Max's safety.

Commissioner Gordon puts a comforting hand on the secret vigilante's shoulder. "Don't worry kid. My men aren't going to stop until we find her."

Terry lets out a breath of frustration. "Neither am I." A few minutes later as McGinnis exits out the office the Principal's voice resounds over the intercom, demanding immediate attention. Carefully, he tells the students and faculty what Terry had been informed (though in a slightly edited version). But the young Batman doesn't really hear any of it. He's barely even aware of the cries coming from the classrooms. The dismissal bell rings and Terry leaves the school building in a hurry. "Terry!" Dana calls rushing down the steps to him as he mounts a motorcycle that Bruce Wayne had given him. "I heard about Max. I'm so worried…can you come by my place later? I'm just, freaked out." She rubs at her eyes.

"No. I'm gonna go look for Max."

"Ter," Dana pleads, "let the police handle it. I don't feel comfortable with you out there alone."

Terry frowns. "I don't feel comfortable with Max out there alone!"

Dana folds her arms and scowls. "Look! I'm worried too, okay? But I won't go out there by myself."

Terry glares at Dana angrily. "Then you don't love Max like I do."

Dana is completely taken back. She feels a shockwave soaring through her chest and wraps her arms around her body. "You know what Terry, I'm not going to listen to you talk to me like that. I'm sick of this."

Terry reaches back and grabs his helmet. "Good. So am I."

"Why are you even with me Terry?" Dana demands hotly. "You avoid me all the time. Why do we even bother making up?"

Terry shrugs. "I don't know. All I know is that I need to go find Max, and if you're willing to let me go then please do it. My head needs to be clear."

Dana then smiles, much to the surprise of Terry. She runs her fingers through her long black hair and gives an exasperated laugh. "Oh my God. You're in love with Max." It wasn't a question. When Terry nods his head weakly Dana nearly falls over in laughter. Surprisingly she wasn't even upset anymore. Part of her always thought that it was a possible that her boyfriend cared more about Max than as a friend. And it didn't really disturb her too much since she could noticeably distinguish that their relationship was falling apart. Knowing that Max was the one who could please Terry and set Dana free from all confusion and hurt from trying to stay with him made all the difference. The Asian beauty begins to turn away from him when she states, "You go and find Max."

"Dana, I –"

She holds up her hand to stop him from continuing on. "It's okay Terry. We both deserve to be happy. I'm just sorry it took so long for us to realize that our season of being together was over. You look for our girl and treat her right. Oh and Terry: don't make her cry and wait like you did me. Max deserves better than that." She blows him a kiss and jogs off to meet Chelsea, wiping the tears from her eyes quickly. They weren't tears of sadness but of joy. She was sure that it was probably wrong to be so happy about breaking up with Terry after having been together for so long, but not even she could prevent true love. Breaking up with him - to her - was simply a sign that something better for her was coming. Terry revs his engine and peels out the school parking lot heading for Wayne Manor. He would need Ace.

Her eyes open slowly, a strange pain dancing through her head. She pauses slightly after squeezing her lids down tightly and then regains the task of opening her eyes once the pain dwindles away. She was laying on her side on something cold. Metal? Her body was trembling and she naturally pulled her arms closer around her frame. Max sits up slowly and looks around. It was dark, the area dimly lit in the confined area in which she found herself. The metal bars of a cage become distinct then as the girl tries to remember what had happened. She is about to call out for help when something brushes against her leg. Gibson turns and sees a dingy black talk flicking itself near the girl's…leg? It was also a dingy black and covered in a skin short layer of fur. What the hell was going on? Max looks at her hands and gasps in absolute terror. She panics, her breath becoming loud and rapid as she places her hands over her grayish-black, naked furry body. "No…"her voice whispers. She spies a giant mirror outside her cage and scrambles to the metal bars. "No!" she screams.

Maxine Gibson had been spliced. Her entire body was covered in gray-black fur, claws protruding from her fingertips, ears pointed in an elfish manner, her eyes glowing a bright distinctive yellow and her pupils in black slits. Max places her trembling hands over her body delicately. What did they do to her? The girl was basically a humanoid cat. She had heard about there being a villain back in the day called Cheetah, whom the Justice League had many run ins with…well, she looked exactly like that, only all black. She couldn't believe that this had occurred to her. Sure, she had been in some pretty messed up situations but this was beyond crazy. It is at that moment that the sounds of all the other "people'' are noticeable to the teenager. Even better: she must have been caught by the wacko serial killer! Max crouches and draws her body in together as she silently weeps. If only this was a bad dream.

"And here," a familiar voice directs, "we have our latest item: the Black Panther. And believe me gentlemen, she's a beauty!" Haha stands outside of the cage talking to a group of men in business suits. Max raises her eyes in complete awe. HE DID THIS TO HER! THAT BASTARD! She lets out a shrill cry and lunges forward, her arm sliding in between the bars and dagger like claws just missing the Joker by an inch as he leaps back. "Ah, well you're awake!" he exclaims with a sinister grin as his newest captive paces the cage back and forth on all fours; a low intimidating growl of frustration sounding from her throat.

"She's a bit fierce to be new," a skinny, nerd-looking man inquires softly.

"Yes," Haha explains, "we've had a couple of run ins recently. She hates me," he adds cheerfully.

Another man, this one more burly looking and rubbing the scruff of his beard inquires, "She is a magnificent creature. The shape of her body is very sensual and sleek: a trim waist line but wide hips…the shape of the calves, the bounty of her chest…it'd be a shame to kill her. Can I buy her alive?"

"If she survives the first hunt, you can bid on her. Our investors have been wanting a Black panther for a while so she must participate…unless you're willing to pay everyone's hunting fee, plus your own and the price to get another panther?" Haha asks hopefully.

"I'll wait."

Max stops pacing the cage at the realization of everything. It was the Jokerz who were doing the killing! They were running some kind of safari. People with big bucks came to hunt or bid on the game while innocents became the prey. And when the prey would get taken down the Jokerz dumped the bodies. What a fine mess to get herself in! "Let me go!" she demands hotly.

Haha declares with a laugh, "No can do sweetie. There's no getting out."

The humanoid feline once again lunges for the Joker growling and hissing ferociously. She couldn't stand this! The group of men laugh at her enthusiasm, claiming that she would be a good hunt; a worthy prize at the end of the day. They then walk off to examine the rest of the animals that would be eventually shot down and killed for sport. Max backs away from the cage and thinks angrily about why she was here in the first place. If Terry hadn't fucked things up she would be home right now complaining over her history assignment or something like that. It seemed that ever since becoming friends with McGinnis, Max experienced nothing but more hurt and anguish than she normally did. But most of the pain was self inflicted. "I do nothing but hurt myself," Max murmurs quietly, her eyes beginning to burn. How weak she had become. Max never cried this much ever! In fact the girl hardly cried at all. "Bear it and live" was her life motto…until Batman. Ugh! Max holds out her arms and looks at her claws. She didn't want to live like this. Heartbroken and about to be murdered: Max would rather take the easy way out. She lifts her opposite hand and holds it over her wrist where her vein should be.

"What a coward I've become," she murmurs softly as a tear slides down her furry cheek. Slowly, she lowers her claw to her wrist. Gibson wasn't one for cheating life: she was a fighter to the death; but this was one battle that she felt just couldn't be won. And then, just a few millimeters from her pulsing vein, Max's nail flinches at the sound of something in the corner of her cage. Her eyes turn quickly to a small figure leaning against the bars weakly. It was a child. She had been so upset about everything she barely even noticed she wasn't alone. Like her, the child was also spliced but with what appeared to be Lion DNA. He was probably only five or six years old.

He looks at her cautiously and fearfully. Max sighs out wearily. She was about to kill herself in front of a little kid…how screwed up in the head was she? "It's alright," her voice coaxes gently. "I won't hurt you. What's your name?"

The young boy crawls out of the shadows and sniffs. Max had frightened him with her ferocity but he was now feeling safe and comfortable around her. "My-my name is Lionel." How quaint: Lionel the lion. "I-they killed my mama…I'm all alone." He begins to cry once more at the remembrance of his mother's brutal murder.

Max bites her bottom lip. How cruel were these guys to kill a kid's mother and try to hunt and kill the little guy. Damn, he was just a baby! "It's okay Lionel," Max tries to persuade him, leaving from her corner to his. She holds out her arms to the little boy and smiles softly. "My name's Max…and I won't let them hurt you. I'll take care of you."

Lionel wipes his eyes and falls into the girls arms. Something about her reminded him of his mother. If she said she would try to help he believed it.

Hours pass before there is a loud wailing sound that fills the holding area. Max looks up quickly as a group of Jokerz appears outside of the cell with fire extinguishers. Using the extinguishers, the Jokerz flush Max and Lionel out of their cage as a door opens behind them. Once outside, Max looks around cautiously, her ears picking up the slightest sound. They appeared to be in some kind of jungle. The vegetation grew tall and freely, completely engulfing the area. This was where the hunts took place: Max could smell blood and bullets in the air. Lionel clutches at her leg fearfully. Max gazes down at him and pats his head reassuringly. "Stay close to me cub," she commands. They get down on all fours and walk quietly and cautiously through the man made jungle. The two arrive to a large tree and Max examines it. She rises up and places her nails into the bark and begins to climb when she hears Lionel whimper below her.

"Please don't leave me," he whispers. "I can't climb good." Max smiles softly and leaps down and lands on her hands and knees. In the time they spent with one another in the cage, Max had formed some strange connection with the young boy. She felt a strange desire to protect him and this not only pleased, but, confused her. Max rubs the side of her face against his as he closes his eyes and responds back to her affectionate gesture. She then reaches her head back behind his neck and grabs hold of the flap of skin there with her teeth. Smoothly, she scales the tree with Lionel in her capable jaws. Once they reach a strong and sturdy branch Max releases him from her hold and then gets a firsthand look at where she was. A giant cemented wall surrounded the entire perimeter and perched on the wall were Jokerz. She could see a large gate to the west (probably the main way of entrance for the hunter and the prey). Trying to get there and out would be near impossible. A crack of gunfire sounds somewhere below and it is followed by the sound of something screaming in pain. Lionel cowers close to her and hides his self behind her front arm.

This was not good at all. Not only was her life in danger but she couldn't allow a child to be killed by a group of idiotic, blood-thirsty, and money hungry clowns! Max looks out into the distance and thinks. There had to be something she could do to contact the authorities…no, better: Batman. If she could find a phone or a computer maybe she could hack into a secure line and get in contact with Bruce without being detected quickly. There had to be some kind of outpost out here right? Max remains still and low within the branches with the cub, listening carefully. Being spliced did have its advantages. She sees the lousy smirk that Haha given her in her head; the image and thought of him makes her claws extend out further and her tail to flick about with agitation. The desire to rip his face off made Max lick her lips with expectation. What she wouldn't give to have his blood oozing from her claws.

Lionel's head whips around quickly as a breeze blows past them. Max smells it as well and hears the sound of a gun cock. "LOOK OUT!" Max grabs Lionel within her arms and leaps from the branch just as a bullet hits it and blows the wood into smithereens. The feline female lands gracefully on the ground and growls. She faces the two hunters angrily and tells Lionel to hide in the bushes. Lionel does so and peeks through the bushes as the slight battle ensues. The men shoot at her again and again and Max leaps back into the tree. Max turns and stalks down the bark headfirst baring her fangs with a gut wrenching hiss. Every move she made was clearly instinct. Max leaps from the tree trunk and lands on one hunter. Her fangs dig deep within his throat as she drags him out of sight from his companion. His fellow gamesman fires his rifle into the vegetation screaming the name of his friend fruitlessly. When he stops shooting he stands still and listens to the silence. And then the Black Panther bounds out of the growth and knocks the man down. The man throws down his weapon and runs off through the leaves and ferns. But Maxine was faster and much more agile. She chases him down, her body flying with unimaginable speed. The hunter trips and falls down unto the hard soil as she steps through the jungle and circles him. "Stay back!" he yells. "I'll kill you."

Max smirks darkly. Sure he would. She crouches and prepares to finish him off when her body is shot straight into the air by a strong force behind her. Maxine twists her body in mid-air, completes a slight summersault, and lands smoothly on the branch of a nearby tree. Another spliced teen looks up at her. Max hisses in recognition of Ramrod; his bull-like head and buff body immediately jolting back a memory. Terry had stopped and cured him before…apparently the bull had gotten resupplied since their last encounter and was now working for the Jokerz. He shakes his horns angrily and snorts, "Sorry kitty. But we can't have you killing anymore customers."

"I'll kill anyone that stands in my way!" Max drops to the ground and kicks the bull square in the jaw. He swings his fist at her, striking down a tree when the panther dodges. Ramrod charges Max, but she grabs a hold of him by the horns and slips over his head. With a twist of her body she gives him a deep scratch on his back. Yet by the time he turns around to face her, Max is gone. She runs through the jungle and finds Lionel in a bush. "Max!" he declares joyfully. The young cub rubs his head against Max's face lovingly. They both purr happily at the short reunion and Max takes the cub back in her mouth and runs through the jungle, passing the vegetation quickly and swiftly. The power she felt within her body was exhilarating. For once in her life she didn't need to be protected or rescued by some Dark Knight. She actually felt safe and confident in the ability to not only preserve her life, but that of another human being's. All she had to do was survive, get Batman to come help, and sink her fangs into Haha. Max purrs in sheer delight.

Terry regrettably gives up for the night. He raided every Jokerz joint he knew but none of them knew about Max. The sense of helplessness that flowed through him made Batman all the more frustrated. Ace whines next to him within the Bat mobile. Even the dog could sense the tension. Terry pets Ace's head and mutters, "I know boy. I'm scared too." He pauses as he looks at the time. "Let's go home." It was still pretty early but his mother Mary was sick with some type of virus and she needed him. Bruce stands up as the car pulls in and turns off. He watches Terry carefully, examining his sad and worn expression. It pained the boy that Max was in this predicament, and it pained Wayne to see him like that. Both those kids were like children to him and the situation was heartbreaking. Bruce's deep voice states, "Why don't you take Ace home with you? You both could use some compassion. You need him more than I do. And give your mother my best…we'll find her Terry. Get some rest." Without another word he disappears up the steps and Terry sighs out following after him. He was too tired to even try to argue.

By the time they get home Terry isn't sure what to do. He wanted to still be out in the streets looking for Max but his mother was sick. There was no way he could abandon her like she was. He opens the door and calls, "I'm home." Ace trots in the house and sits in front of the living room chair. "Mom?"

"Hi honey. Welcome home," Mary answers while rubbing Ace's head.

"You should be in bed," Terry scolds, tossing his coat on the couch and looking over his mother's shoulder.

"I'll go in a minute." Terry then notices that she had two pictures in her hand. One was a photo of the family with his father Warren. Mary caresses Warren's face with her pinky finger. Her eyes then shift to the other photo of Terry and Max. They had taken that picture a couple of months ago at a carnival that Wayne Powers Corp. was sponsoring. The McGinnis' had insisted that Max tag along since she had nothing better to do. McGinnis smiles at how happy his best friend was. She had laughed so much that night and Terry couldn't keep himself from staring at her beautiful smile. If only she could have been that happy all the time. But she was still hurting from a dark past that he had known nothing about. They had got on every ride together. When this picture had been taken Terry had just Max a stuffed Black Panther plushy toy and the two decided to get on the Ferris Wheel. They had been laughing and talking when the fireworks started lighting up the night sky behind them. The colors illuminating Max's peaceful had really captured McGinnis' attention. It was like she was somewhere far away in her mind. Like she was in a place full of happy and cherishable memories. Max put the camera on the seat across from them and set the timer. She had sat beside him when Terry grabbed Max by the waist and pulled her across his lap sideways in a cradling position in his arms. Max had wrapped her arms around his neck and put the stuffed animal on her lap. They both smiled happily as the camera took the picture just as the fireworks lit up the sky behind him. Max and Mary both had a copy of the picture. Mary whispers, "I miss her. I hope she's okay." The thought of something terrible happening to Max made Mary want to cry. She didn't need to get so emotionally upset in her current state but…

Terry places his arms around his mother's shoulders. "Don't worry mom. I'm sure she's fine. The Jokerz probably let her go and she's waiting for the cops to find her." He smiles, ''And when they do she'll cuss them out for taking so long." The mother and son laugh at the thought. That was something Max would definitely do. Sometime later Terry tucks his mother in bed and lays on the living room couch and turns on the T.V. Ace jumps on the couch beside him and places his black head on Terry's thigh and sighs with a soft whimper. Terry rubs the Great Dane's head, understanding what the dog was feeling. McGinnis missed Max more than anything. It made no sense that something like this should happen to her. An image of Max smiling at him pops in the young Batman's head. He smiles then, until the next image that surfaces is when Gibson had walked out of the door crying. Terry holds his head down and feels his eyes begin to water. Terry wasn't much for shedding tears but he didn't know what else to do. Ace lifts his head and licks McGinnis's cheek affectionately. "I'm such an idiot," he whispers. "Why did I let her go? I'm so stupid!" He shakes his head.

All Max ever wanted to do was to help him; was to be a part of something wonderful. And all the young Batman ever did was break the girl's heart. He couldn't understand why Max would want to continue to be around a guy like him even though he caused so many bad things to flow between them and watch her cry. It was like she liked the way it hurt…loved the way he lied. Why would Max stay in such a painful situation? They were like two dangerous forces meeting together in anger. Destruction was the only outlook in such a joining. Terry was bad for her, he thought this hard and true, and in the end he was leading to the demise of the woman he loved and who loved him back. The picture of Max lying in a dark alleyway covered in her own blood explodes within Terry's mind. He clamps his eyes close even tighter in an attempt to erase such a thought from his mind. Those beautiful eyes held so many mysteries and Terry was afraid he would never be able to tap into them. Ace whines once again and cuddles his body closer to Terry's. McGinnis frowns as he pets Ace with one hand and dries his tears with the other. He wouldn't stop until he found her. It didn't matter if he had to search for years: he would find Max alive and well. And if he found her dead...he would eliminate the Jokerz populous for good as he should've done when he thought they killed his father. Batman would see if Jokerz still smiled when dead.

The next two weeks pass by mercilessly for not only Max, but Terry as well. Terry was still fruitlessly searching for his best friend and Max was still fighting for her life in the game preserve. Hamilton Hill High made a memorial for Max and placed it in front of her locker. Terry hated that: how everyone could just assume she was dead. He could feel in his heart that she was alive. And she was alive; though just barely. But the time for Max's freedom had finally come!

Max cowers in the bushes with Lionel by her side and looks at the outpost with gleaming eyes. The now distinguished white diamond shaped mark on her chest was very noticeable on herself as well as Lionel. This symbol indicated that any "animal" that wore it was seriously difficult and dangerous game (which brought their bounty up even higher). Even though Max is slightly proud that she can't be killed she realizes that things would be and were more dangerous for them. She gives Lionel a look and the cub creeps out of the bushes and meows, drawing the attention of the two Jokerz on duty there. As the two leave from their post, Max stealthily creeps into the tent and finds a phone. She types in a number on the keypad and switches her eyes back in forth in caution. The other line picks up: "Hello?"

"Bruce. It's me."

"MAX? Where are you? Are you ok?" Bruce demands in a nervous tension. He then sits up straight as he realizes the appearance of his "daughter".

"I'm fine…sort of," Max sighs with relief. "I've been spliced and I'm being held hostage with others…it's the serial killer."

Bruce looks at her seriously and says, "Hold on kid. I'm sending help." The old man begins to activate a tracking device to locate where she was calling from.

"Thanks," says Max. She turns as she hears the voices of the Jokerz approaching. "I have to go. Tell him to meet me at the large Mariposa tree in the center of where I am."

"Got it. And Max?"

"Yes?"

"Be careful, daughter."

"Thanks Bruce." Max turns off the phone and leaps back into the bushes, catching up with Lionel as they run towards the heart of the preserve.

Terry is flying around the heart of Gotham when he gets the call from Bruce. "Yeah, what is it?"

"Terry, I found Max."

"What?" The car swerves slightly and Terry regains his composure. "Where is she? Is she alright?" Terry demands.

"I'm sending you the coordinates. She wants to meet at the Mariposa Tree."

Batman pushes straight down on the throttle and flies off at top speed. "On my way."

Max paces the front of the tree anxiously. Where was he? Lionel curls up in a ball and watches his newfound mother fiercely. She was on edge, he could tell, and that made him all the more nervous. "Are you ok?" he asks.

Max faces him and smiles, "I'm fine honey. Don't you worry." She wasn't fine. Batman was on his way. That meant possible freedom for all of the victims here on the reserve, but it also meant having to come face to face with her heartache. Max shakes her head roughly. She couldn't let herself think about that at a time like this! There were greater problems than her private dilemma.

Lionel sits up and arches his back ferociously and lets out a hiss. His ears lay back as his head faces something in front of them. Visibly there was no one there, but he could smell whatever it was. Max sniffs the air rapidly and also catches the scent…it was unusual: slightly familiar and yet held the components of Jokerz…a lot of Jokerz. The Black Panther positions herself in front of Lionel and growls out angrily. Could it be the Chameleon? There were a handful of Chameleon spliced Jokerz that could turn completely invisible and often assisted hunters in catching difficult prey. Max thought she got a good number of them but perhaps the survivors just didn't catch the point! Pinpointing the approaching threat Max creeps into the bushes and lays wait for the perfect moment. When the invisible force spots Lionel and begins moving towards him, Max leaps forward and swings her claws. The nails scratch something tough and a voice gives out a yell of surprise. Max slides about the earth and regains her footing. She jumps upon the person and begins to bite down on where its throat should be when she feels something on her stomach, and it propels her off and onto the ground.

She hisses angrily and is about to make another attack when the cloaking device is disabled and the Black suited form stands ready to defend himself from the attacker. Max pauses and raises her head in question. "Ter – er - Batman?" she asks. It was stupid to ask when she could see him right in front of her!

Batman cocks his head to the side and relaxes his stance. He doesn't immediately recognize the feline beauty. He states, "I was told to come here by a friend. Have you seen her? Don't worry," he directs to the little lion behind the female, "I'm gonna get you out of here."

Max raises her body full height and says hotly, "You idiot! What took you so fucking long! We're sitting ducks out here!"

Batman opens his eyes in complete shock. "Max?" He blushes and looks to the ground, tearing his gaze from her naked body. Well, she wasn't exactly naked; she was covered in a sleek layer of fur, but still…it made Terry a little embarrassed to see his best friend like that. "What happened to you?"

Lionel edges curiously over to Max and crouches behind her leg. Max smiles at him: one minute he was all big and bad and the next he was a total wuss! He asks in a whisper, "Is Batman gonna get us out mama?"

"Mama?" Terry asks baffled.

Max rolls her eyes at Batman and states to the both of them, "We need to get off the ground." With a swift movement Max scoops Lionel up into her jaws and scales the tree with ease. Batman remains appalled by her movements which were so elegant and swift yet deadly at the same time. He uses the jets on his feet and quickly sends himself up into the tree and lands on a high branch in front of Max. Lionel lays down against the trunk of the tree while Gibson creeps farther out onto the branch to talk to Batman. She meets eyes with him and is about to say something but finds that she cannot. She was so angry at herself for getting put into their situation. She wanted to forget anything ever happened but knew that that was virtually impossible. Max bites her lip and turns away from his gaze. If she looked at him any longer she would probably wind up crying.

Batman's heart accelerates greatly and he releases a deep sigh from his lips. There were so many things he wanted to say but he didn't know if she would want to hear them. And when she turned away from him his heart dropped. "Max," he begins with a whisper. "What's been going on here?"

"The Jokerz are having some kind of safari hunt here. They splice people and bring in big time business men to hunt us. It's terrible what's going on. People are dying left and right. I've had to kill so many of them just to survive."

"Kill?" Batman says in shock. Bruce lets out a deep sigh. "Max, why would you-?"

"What?" Max demands hotly, facing him with a fierce stare. "Am I supposed to just sit by and let them hunt me and the cub down? You're crazy if that's what you think!"

"But to kill? C'mon," Batman replies back with an icy anger. "You know better than that! Is that the answer to everything? Murder somebody when they piss you off?"

"I wish I could murder you all the time!"

"What? Look at that kid, Max! You're killing people in front of him!"

Max hisses out and points an accusing finger at her best friend. "Don't you play that heroic shit with me, Batfreak! You don't know what it's been like in here."

"Who's the freak? Look at you!" Batman stops abruptly. He was doing it again: starting the argument and hitting low when Max wasn't taking his bullshit. Max flinches and holds down her head, wrapping her claws around her body protectively. This is always what happened! Why were things so difficult between them? "Max, I—I didn't mean – I'm sorry."

"So I've killed to protect me and the cub," Max whispers. "That's nothing compared to the ways you've killed me…"

Batman balls up his fist in anxiety. Killed her; that sounds about right. It destroyed him every time she was put in harm's way: whether it be by someone else, or by him. Batman reaches out and takes Max's hand. She looks at with teary eyes and he wipes them away with his other hand. "I never want to hurt you," he whispers. "Max, I love you too much to let something drive a wedge between us. If you want me to leave forever, if that will make you happy, then just say so and I'll be out of your life by the time the sun is up. Just tell me what to do; I can't keep hurting you like this."

Max's eyes open completely wide in shock. That wasn't something that she wanted to hear, but it was something that the young girl had been contemplating for a very long time. If she lived without Terry or Batman in her life, maybe she could be somewhat happy again. Then again, happiness wasn't really something that she was capable of doing alone. The spliced teen is about to open her mouth when a loud screech comes down to them from the air. She looks up to see a Jokerz teen that had been spliced with Eagle DNA plummet out of the sky towards them. How many of these spliced clowns were there? It seemed that they had to be more aware of the Jokerz than the actual hunters with guns and a mind to kill them. Lionel sits up and stares at the bird as it approaches. Batman throws his arms protectively around Max and shoves her down, but the talons of the Joker grips itself around the Lion cub as he screams out in sheer terror. The Eagle flies off into the night sky with Lionel in his grasp as Max pushes Batman off of her. "Lionel! Cub!" She yells loudly.

Lionel sinks his teeth into the bird's leg and it caws out in pain and releases its hold on the young child. Lionel plummets to the far away ground, hollering for his "mama" to come save him as she always did. But this time, Max wouldn't be able to save him. Max, crouched on the branch and extending her hand towards the figure of the cub falling out the sky, screams at the top of her lungs, "LIONEEEEEEEEELLLL!"

TO BE CONTINUED…