Chapter 14-Batsignal

Panther stood at the edge of a rooftop, looking all around, before shaking their head and leaping to the next and repeating the action. Batman may have been searching for him, but Panther had been searching for Batman just as hard. He wasn't watching the darling Ms. Walters, or keeping an eye on Wayne Enterprises, and since those were the only two places to think of looking for him…Panther was stumped and a bit anxious. "Stupid…should have given him a way to contact me. Well, screwed once again…" Panther turned, "Unless. Oh, how obvious."

Bruce glanced out his window and saw the batsignal. Ignoring his tired muscles and mind he opened the secret entrance to the bat cave and was on his way.

He reached the rooftop of the police station. The light had been shut off before he had even left the cave, but he had wanted to know why someone had turned it on to begin with. "Gordon?" He called, arriving at the apparently empty rooftop.

"I think he's at home." A mechanical voice said. Batman turned to see Panther, "You make good time."

"You signaled me?"

"I've been looking for you."

"And I've been looking for you."

Panther stood up, smiling beneath the mask. "You found something out?"

"I'm not sure you can say that, considering what you gave me to search with. The procedure you mentioned was confirmed to be developed by Wayne Biotech, but canceled about ten years ago. I'm still looking into those who were involved, none are your Bodega."

"Can I have the list of names?"

"I'd rather you not have them."

"Batman, you don't know how serious this is. I'm in trouble, here. If I don't know who…" Panther sighed and shook their head, "I'm not the only one, Batman. I've gone rogue, and they're hunting me down."

"Why would they do that?"

"I'm not sure exactly why they have decided to. Either they found out I'm digging into the history of where the Panther's originated, or they are mad about the little bomb I used to destroy their lab...or the contract I defaulted on." Panther sat down on the ledge of the rooftop, resting their elbows on their knees and putting their masked face in their gloved hands, "I'm seriously, without a doubt, screwed. I don't know what to do."

"What were you trying to do, Panther?"

"I never really knew." They admitted. "All I wanted to know…was what happened to me. I never understood it. Then I thought if I could find out about Bodega, where he came from…find something to use and find him, stop him. Maybe expose the operation and put the Panthers in the spotlight. But it's too late, if they aren't still in Gotham they will be soon." Panther stood up to face Batman once more. "Thanks for trying."

Batman looked over Panther, their posture that of someone who was defeated. "What will you do now?"

"There isn't a lot you can do when a Panther is being paid to kill you, Batman. But I suppose I will do what I can to stay alive for now."

Batman clenched his jaw, "A Panther was paying someone to kill Jade Walters…"

Panther shrugged, "She's high-profile. Those hits can take months to complete."

Batman took a step towards Panther, "Tell me what you know so I can help you, and save lives."

Panther laughed, "Do you know how much someone will pay to know what the President of a foreign country is doing? Or…how much the untimely death of a nosy senator would go for? Our services go for millions of dollars, Batman. And there are many of us willing to take someone else's payday. Jade doesn't die by one hand, it'll be another. Or maybe, like I said before, she was just an attack to get my attention." Panther gave a mechanical laugh, "Hell, maybe she paid us to pay someone to attack her for the press coverage."

Panther dodged a charging Batman, "Ah, did I hit soft spot? I don't give a damn about Jade Walters, Batman. If she comes out of this alive good for her, but I'm trying to work for a greater good. If other Panthers find out I've been speaking to you, they'll start coming to Gotham in large numbers. Neither of us would survive a week. It might be best if you just forget you ever met me. I can't stay in Gotham much longer anyways."

"Why? You've been here trying to get information, and all of it may be locked away in Wayne Towers."

"Panthers know I'm up to something already. If Bodega hasn't put the dots together by now, he will. I just have to face it…I'm on my own, fighting a losing battle." Panther gave a mechanical sigh, "Don't worry about Jade, Batman. I looked into her case…someone is trying to hurt her financially, not kill her. Just trying to rattle her cage a bit. Didn't think you'd get all worked up about her being a possible target."

"I want to know why anyone would hire a group of assassins and mercenaries to hurt her," Batman demanded.

"You'd have to ask her…but chances are she isn't going to tell you," Panther said, and started running for the edge of the building.

Batman opened his mouth but Panther was already in the air. He frowned, and thought about trying to chase him down. If Panther needed more, he would try to get more.