Disclaimer: Sky High (2005) and any characters within the movie belong to Disney. Anything from the Superman, Batman or Justice League universes belongs to DC Comics. I own my original characters and my plot. I am not trying to pass any of these characters or copyrighted ideas off as my own and therefore it isn't plagiarism or copyright infringement.


Chapter Nine - SCUM

Yesterday's 'Save the Civilian' was the greatest experience ever! After all her smack talk that bitch got what she deserved, I do feel bad about Warren getting hit in the face with one of her snowballs, but hey all's fair, right? So, after I got home and hours of pestering me I agreed to go to Homecoming, by myself, or as the story goes. I mean if they're all expecting me to go so why not use the opportunity? Maybe I can feed Bruce a line about getting ready at Layla's place. So, I can be done kicking those asses by the time they realize I'm not there. I think I'll have Alfred drop me off in front of her house in the morning and then I can go stake out the HQ of SCUM. Well, I should probably pack my bag. I had to come up with hero costume, but then I remembered that I was able to pack my mother's Catwoman suit. This could be very fun, though I'm making alterations. I've got to make a lot of preparations before tomorrow. So, I'll check back in with you later.

Helena sighed as she closed her journal and left it on her desk as she walked to her closer and pulled her mother's black suit out. Looking over the mask she knew it had to be changed, after all she was part bat. Packing the suit in the bag she grabbed a pair of steel toed combat boots and arranged it in her bag as not attract attention. Taking her mother's old mask she extended the ears and made them look similar to Batman's mask but not so dramatic. Packing the mask in her bag she sighed. "Now, all I have to do is wait until everyone's in bed and then I can raid the Bat Cave."

Sitting at her computer desk and connecting to the Wayne Mainframe she was able to access the security cameras throughout the property. All the main areas of the home were emptied and Alfred was in bed. Bruce had gone out on patrol so she knew it was the right time to get into the cave without issue. Dressed in a black costume and black face rag she went down to the bat cave. Quietly she filled her massager bag full of bat-a-rangs, smoke bombs and rope. She knew that it would be hard to take on all of them without some help. There was no back-up, no outside help so she decided taking some of his sophisticated tech would assist her. She grabbed a pair of special night vision goggles and closing the bag he snuck back into her room and began fitting her costume with a proper utility belt.

As soon as everything was prepared she put everything into the messenger bag and set it by the door. Quickly going through the surveillance videos she replaced footage of her act with footage from the night before and climbed into bed. Laying and staring at the ceiling she hoped no one was going to figure out what she was up to until after SCUM was destroyed.


*Break*

Awaking early she wanted to get ready for her drive into town, so she showered and dressed like normal. After tying her shoes she ran downstairs and sat at the dining room table and Alfred brought out a plate of eggs over toast. Taking a bite of the eggs she noticed Bruce staggering into the room slowly, she could tell he was out last night because he had a fat lip and a bruise under his left eye.

"Well you look like you had a busy night." Helena quipped as she took a bite of toast.

Bruce grunted as he slowly sat down, "I was following a lead that Solomon Grundy was spotted by Gotham Wharf. Let's just say my information was right." Rubbing his chin Bruce opened the morning paper as Alfred bought him a cup of coffee and a bag of ice.

"So, he got away I take it?" Helena drank her orange juice.

"Word of advice, if you ever see him run as fast as you can. He would have no second thoughts about crushing you. He hates your mother just as much as me, is that understood?" Bruce's blue eyes stabbed into her soul as if he was aware of something.

"Um okay and why would I ever run into a monster like that? I saw the news reports, I know he's dangerous and if I ever saw him I'd give him a mile between us. But thanks for the concern daddy!"

Taking a drink of his coffee he glared as he shifted his eyes to the paper and began to read, Alfred stood behind him with his hands behind his back.

"Alfred, may I get you to drive me Layla's house? Since I'm going to that lame dance I told her I would come over and hang out to get ready." Helena drank the last of her juice and stood up, slinging her bag across her chest.

"It will be a pleasure, young miss. Master Bruce will you require anything while I am out?" Alfred smiled turning to Bruce.

"A new set of ribs and jaw would be nice. No, thank you Alfred, I'll be fine." A slight smile crossed his face as he took another drink of coffee.

"Very well, sir. Young miss, please meet me at the front door in a moment." Alfred chuckled as he walked back into the kitchen, the swinging door making its slight whooshing sound.

"Helena, I'm glad you changed your mind about the dance, it will be good for you to hang with your friends. I want you to cut Warren a break and dance with him, I think we have your hormones under control to the point you can be around him again."

"I won't make any promises Bruce, but I'll try. Gotta go, see you later!" Running out of the dining room she opened the front door and on queue Alfred pulled up. Opening the rear passenger door and climbing in she closed the door.


*** break***

The drive seemed to take an eternity as Helena went over in her head if this was a good idea, should she tell someone, then talking herself back up convincing herself she can do it. As Alfred pulled up to Layla's house Helena looked out the window, her heart was racing in anticipation as the car came to a stop.

"Will I be picking you back up later, miss?" Alfred turned his gaze in the rearview mirror as she opened the door.

"I'll call you, after all this is a dance and I'll be having fun mixing it up with my friends. Thanks for the ride!" Closing the door and waved as Alfred drove away, she walked up the sidewalk to Layla's front door. Watching him turn the corner and out of site she ran down the sidewalk and into the alley behind Layla's house. There was bus stop nearby that had a route that had stops near the river, that according to her research was close the SCUM headquarters.

Waiting for the bus she looked nervously at the cars that drove by, if any spotted her now the game was up. Soon the bus pulled up and she sat near the front, the sounds of shoes tapping the floor expressed her anxiety. As the stop came for the river came her heart began racing again as it slowed to a stop. Stepping off the bus she walked down to a rest stop bathroom and waited until dark. As soon as it was dark enough she pulled out and put on her mother's old Catwoman costume and wrapping the utility belt around her small waist she attached the extra gas grenades and put the mask on. Putting on the night vision goggles she took from the bat cave and the steel toe boots the costume was complete. Looking at herself in the polished stainless steel bathroom mirrors typical of those kinds of bathrooms she smiled and then put her clothes in the book bag.

Slowly opening the bathroom door she scanned the area and quickly ran behind some large rocks and hid the bag be leaping on the rocks along the river's edge. Her agility allowed her to skip from rock to rock quickly and as she came around the bend a pathway she was looking for opened up. Quickly leaping into the trees she went from branch to branch until a small concrete building that appeared no bigger than four feet high and wide seemed to grow from the ground. Knowing that the entrance would have some sort of alarm she had to find another way in.

Adjusting the settings of the night vision goggles she looked for any kind of heat emissions and saw a ventilation shaft 30 feet behind the concrete structure. Quietly she leapt on top the vent and quickly removed the cover she saw it was big enough for her to crouch and with a backflip entered the shaft, replacing the cover as she entered.

Following the shaft east it opened up into a large basement and peeking her head out she looked for cameras or hidden alarms then slowly entered the room. It appeared that they didn't anticipate anyone using the vents to break in. Hugging the wall she made for a set of stairs on the opposite end of the basement that lead up to steel door. Slowly cracking open the door a hallway with a wall of windows that faced west filled her vision. No cameras were viewable as she crouched down below the widows and down to a door at the end the hall.

Slowly jiggling the handle of the door and quietly opened it she looked in and saw the room was dark and appeared empty so she slipped in. With the goggles she could see the room was actually two large rooms with what looked like an office at the end, the door was closed so she couldn't tell for sure. Suddenly she heard a door in the hallway open and the sounds of several men talking filled her ears and were heading her way. Quickly hiding behind a loveseat and curled up as tight as she could the door opened and the lights came on as three men walked into the room and sat down in the next room.

"So how long did Hydra say we were to babysit our guest?" One of the men asked. Helena couldn't see him but he sounded familiar

"We were only told to make sure he was not disturbed. He is still a bit out of sorts from his run-in with the Batman. We will sit here as long as ordered Gravinator." The second man replied in his smooth yet gravely tone. Helena knew that was Dragontongue.

"That guy gives me the creeps, I tried to read his mind but that was impossible! It's like a dark void of anger that never ends! The sooner we can leave the-"The third man paused, "Well, it seems we have a guest with us tonight. Mind standing up from behind the furniture and show yourself?"

The sounds of the three men standing up and approaching Helena forced her to do a quick roll as she tossed a couple smoke bombs into the room. Each man coughed as the room filled with smoke.

"Mind Molder, who is he?" Dragontongue covered his mouth with his right arm as he coughed.

"Whoever he is, his mind is like a steel trap, I can't get anything out." Mind Molder coughed.

Quickly running out the smoke Helena kicked Gravinator in the gut which threw him against the wall, spinning around she punched Dragontongue in the face while dodging a hit from Mind Molder and back kicked him in the chest before back flipping back into the smoke.

"You fella's aren't messing with a man. God you've gotten slow in your old age Dragontongue." Helena taunted from behind the smoke.

"Who the hell are you, how do you know who I am?" Dragontongue demanded as he rubbed his sore cheek, his eyes grew wide at what he saw next.

Helena slowly walked out of the smoke so they could see her. Wearing a mask over her nose and mouth to protect her from the smoke she took a defensive stance as the three men looked her over.

"She looks a little like Cat Woman, but isn't she in jail?" Gravinator had a confused look on his face as he cradled his midsection

"No, this is someone different, someone new." Mind Molder glared at her when behind them they heard a growling noise.

Everyone turned their head to look at the office door as it flew off the hinges and a very tall, muscular, very white, very disfigured man stepped out of the room. The smell of decay filled the room, Solomon Grundy was awake and he was mad.

"Solomon Grundy was sleeping! Solomon Grundy got woke up! Solomon Grundy doesn't like to be waked up. Solomon Grundy is angry!" The floor creaked under his immense weight as he stepped further out into the room. Looking directly at Helena his anger intensified, "Girl look like Bat and Cat, Solomon Grundy hates the Bat and Cat!"

Running at Helena he pushed the three men out of the way, quickly jumping back Helena dodged as Solomon Grundy took his large hand and tried to hit her. Nearly hitting her, Helena had difficulty dodging successive attacks that the large creature unleashed on her. For a large man he was quick and only seemed to get quicker with each blow. Rolling behind him she jumped on his back and took out a collapsible baton, repeatedly smashing it against his large, malformed head. With each hit it seemed ti anger Solomon Grundy even more as the baton broke and fell to the ground, a large white hand quickly grabbed and threw her against the wall, the sound of crushed drywall filled Helena's ears. Landing on her feet Helena threw a couple flash grenades that blinded her opponent enough for her to leap on his back again. Extending her claws she carved his back and shoulders in a hope of disabling him as he screamed in pain.

"Gra! Bad Bat Cat girl, Solomon Grundy smashes!" His arms flayed about trying to grab her as Helena moved out of the way each time he came close to grabbing her. Frustrated he spun around and smashed his back against the wall forcing Helena to let go. Quickly grabbing her by the neck he leaned in close growled, his breath smelled of hot, rotting flesh. "You smell like him and her, you fight like her, cat woman hurt Solomon Grundy too. I will crush you!" Bringing her away from the wall he smashed Helena back with such great force she almost passed out. Clawing at his wrist and kicking him in the chest Helena tried to get away, but he repeatedly smashed her again and again until her body went limp and she about to pass out.

With a great explosion the door to the room was blown off the hinges as Superman flew into the room followed by Batman. Superman landed a solid left punch on the head of Solomon Grundy with great force he spun around and threw Helena through the large window. Landing with a thud she was showered in glass, rolling to a stop on her right side. Her head spinning and her body racked with pain, the sounds of fighting in the room above her filled the forest .The warmth of her blood flowing from her open wounds formed in a pool around her broken body. As she lost consciousness the meows of cats filled her last thoughts.


This is the Hubby once again-Well, Helena didn't anticipate Solomon Grundy to join the party and it nearly killed her. Will this stop her quest for vengeance? How will Warren take to the news she nearly died? Stay tuned for chapter 10!