4.
Iceberg Lounge
November 17, 21:42 UTC
"You get anything?" Tim asked as he and Cassie sat back down at their table from a dance. It was the best way they could get any information from the guests without them knowing they were snooping around.
"Maybe," Cassie answered before taking a sip of water. "See those two women beside the ice sculpture of a polar bear? I thought I heard them say something about Penguin taking too long with a deal."
"Get what it's about?"
"I couldn't hear too well over the orchestra, but I heard 'ergang' once or twice."
"Ergang? Could mean Intergang is-"
"Wait," Leaning slightly to the side, Cassie kept her eyes on the two women as they moved away from the sculpture. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you-"
Before the Boy Wonder could finish his inquiry, Cassie had already gotten up and moved away from the table. Men turned to stare at her as she walked, almost floated, by as her dress flowed around her feet. The women she kept her eye on had both disappeared into the lady's powder room with her following them, reaching the room half a minute later.
Even the powder room was immaculately decorated with its white marble floor, light peach walls, and commodes surrounded by frosted glass. There was even a table stocked with perfumes, feminine needs, hairspray, and various other necessities with a woman in a black and white pant suit standing nearby should anyone need something from the table.
"Can you believe Oswald's not down here?" one of the women, a tall, long haired brunette Cassie followed asked as she applied more mascara.
"Cut him a break, Courtney. How do you expect for him to get around quickly with those stubby little legs?" The other woman was a dirty blonde with obvious enhancements to her figure. She too was reapplying her makeup, lipstick as it were, while making small talk.
"Macy, you're so wicked. Just because he's a midget doesn't mean he's short on cash. I heard about what happens when you work for him, you can-"
"Excuse me." Taking position beside the two slightly older women, Cassie acted as if she were adjusting her hair and applying a few shots of hairspray. Just as she anticipated, both women fell silent at her close proximity to them for the time she was there. It didn't take long for her to finish up and tip the woman beside the door before leaving.
"A little young to be here, don't you think?" Macy asked as she adjusted her top.
"I saw her with Bruce Wayne's kid," Courtney told her. "Looks like he's not the only playboy and womanizer in Gotham."
"How is Bruce a womanizer?"
"He has yet to go out with me, that's how. So, who is Oswald dealing with?"
"Intergang, I think their called. Felix told me he wouldn't be long. Something about buying weapons of some sort. But you didn't hear that from me."
Outside in the dining area, Tim kept his eye open for his girlfriend as he waited patiently. This was something he hated, not having any information while on a mission. If only Cassie would have told him what she was doing then he wouldn't be as on edge as he was. Fingers taped rapidly on the table cloth as he grew anxious when three large men came up to him.
"Mr…Drake?" one of them asked.
"Yes?" the teen answered.
"Will you please come with us? Mr. Cobblepot, upon learning you were in the lounge this evening, wishes to enjoy your company as well as your lady friend at the chef's table."
"Oh, that…that sounds wonderful, but as it is, I am awaiting her to finish up powdering her nose."
"No need for that. We had our employee in the powder room paged and has already escorted her to your new table."
"Oh, well…"
"Please, right this way, Mr. Drake."
Alleyway
November 17, 21:47 UTC
Across the street from the Iceberg Lounge, Guardian had a smaller version of his computer tablet displaying what the others were seeing inside the lounge. He grew worried when Bumblebee's video feed cut off and received nothing but static once she entered the elevator. Apparently the signal was scrambled and refused to come through. As for Tim's tie-cam, he grew hungry looking at the food the teen was eating. When he switched over to Cassie's video feed, he was surprised to see the floor of what looked like a restroom. He was about to contact Miss Martian via text when he heard two women mention Intergang.
"Cass, you are a genius, girl." Listening closely, Guardian overheard the two women practically spill everything they knew on what was going on. Felix, one of Penguin's employees from the sound of it, had told one of them everything. Intergang was there, looking to sell their apocalyptic weaponry for one reason or another. It wasn't until they left the vicinity of the camera's vocal range when he received a text.
MM: Guard, hear that?
MD: Yep. Time to move in or get our troops out?
MM: Give them another twenty then I'll float you back to the ship to change. Then you can go in after them.
Before Guardian could respond, he heard a commotion occur from an alley beside the lounge. Three large men were dragging someone out and giving him the bum toss into a pile of garbage. The three fived each other as they went back into the building when a few minutes later, Tim's face appeared on the video feed on his tablet.
"Guardian, Miss M, come in." Tim's words were rushed as he set his tie on a stack of trash bags. "Something's going down inside. I think they made Cass. I'm going back in and need you to provide a distraction in ten minutes when I'll break radio silence for Bumblebee to get out."
The last Guardian saw of his younger partner was him fading into the shadows and emerging a few seconds later in his Robin attire, sans cape, which was not deployed from its hidden compartment.
Inside the lounge, Cassie was looking for her boyfriend when she didn't see him at their table. Every passing second she couldn't find him made her grow even more nervous as the plan was for them to always meet there. He had no reason to leave the vicinity and only hoped he was in the restroom as she took a seat and continued to look around for him when she felt a prick at her feet. Using her foot to scratch the spot, since scratching in public was strictly forbidden in 'high society' she kept her legs under the table when another prick occurred. She once again scratched it when it happened a third time. Looking own, she saw Bumblebee wave at her urgently.
Grabbing her clutch purse from the table, she placed it in her lap and opened it up. Once her partner was inside, she moved it back to the table and acted as if she were digging through it in search of something.
"Cass! Cass!" Bumblebee shouted from inside the small bag. "They're on to you, girl! Tim's been thrown out and the others are getting ready to get you and me out! Just be ready to-"
Cutting the small woman off was an alarm alerting the patrons, in a polite way of course, to leave the premises. The staff quickly made sure the customers were taken care of while leading them to the exits. As the semi-Amazonian got up to leave, one of the men from earlier cut her off and forced her to fall back in her chair.
"My apologies, miss. But could you wait here until we have the area cleared out more?"
"I do not think that is necessary. It looks as if enough people have left."
Getting back to her feet, Cassie tried to move around the man but was cut off again.
"Look, I do not know what you are trying to do, but my boyfriend is probably waiting outside for me right now."
"Oh, he is definitely outside, young lady." Waddling into the room, Penguin made his way to his employee and the young heroine. "And if you want to avoid making a scene, I would suggest you stay seated until we are alone. That, or I will be forced to use one of my trick umbrellas I am sure you have heard of."
Falling back on her training, Cassie remembered to remain calm. She maneuvered her clutch to her side and opened it out of view so Bumblebee could get out. The pint-sized woman heard everything and made her way under the table as the last of the patrons left the building.
"According to our systems, the one called Bumblebee is also within the premises. Find her and bring her here," Penguin ordered another of his men. "There was also an unidentified signal originating here, three to be precise. Find them and cut them off."
As the hired muscle of the short criminal left, several others soon took his place along with the few from Intergang. They were all wielding the apocalyptic weapons they were looking to sell and stood before Cassie in a threatening manner.
"I do not take kindly to the League sticking their nose in my on goings. As I have made perfectly clear, this is a legitimate place of business, one I have had the pleasure of running on the straight and narrow as you would say."
"While making deals under the table with criminals and buying illegal goods as well as selling them," Cassie said. "We know what you do here behind closed doors. This place is like one of those speakeasies from the prohibition days. The cops and League come in, you're all business, the moment they leave, you're all crooked deals and-"
"Enough," Penguin ordered. "I am on a rather tight schedule in which my time is precious to me." He then turned to face the group of Intergang men. "Gentlemen, you may start the demonstration when ready."
Cocking their weapons, the members of Intergang stole quick glances at each other before taking aim at the blonde Amazon. The one carrying a large back mounted device was gestured to go first as his weapon could be used to incapacitate any super powered individual. Swallowing a lump in his throat the singled out man stepped forward and aimed a large chest mounted cannon at the still sitting girl. Cassie shifted her left foot ever so slightly, flexing her calf muscle to leap away at the last possible moment and fly away from the heavily armed group.
"Any time now," Penguin said.
Nodding nervously, the man placed his index fingers on the lock on buttons to place the reticle on the black ops member then moved his thumbs over the firing knobs. Watching him carefully, Cassie saw his thumbs press down on the controls and timed her jump precisely. The red disks shot outward and let off an electrical field around the chair she was in as well as the table. By the time the others turned to face her, she had already pulled out her rope and lassoed the pack wearing Intergang member.
"Fire!" Penguin yelled. "Take her down!"
In no time, the men opened fire on the flying teen girl who whipped her captive into several of Penguin's men. Her bracelets shined brilliantly as they reflected the bullets coming at her. Those with Apocalyptic weapons fired hesitantly, taking their time in pulling the triggers and picking their shots carefully.
"Back up, back up!" Cassie yelled in hopes her teammates would hear her. "Oh, crap, I left my camera in the bathroom. Fine, more fun for me."
Dodging a volley of fire, the Amazon in training charged low at two of the men. She took them both out by grabbing their legs and tossing them to the ceiling. Both hit hard and fell through a table as others took their place. Her golden lasso shot forth, snaring the polar bear ice sculpture and swinging it at the group, taking three more out before going areal again.
"I know it's cheesy, but…chill out!" Cassie yelled as she saw the ice sculpture crumble into pieces. She then reached for the clasp keeping her hair up and pulled it out, replacing it with her usual headband before continuing the fight. "There, that's better."
"You with the Apocalyptic weapons, what are you waiting for?" Penguin yelled as he took cover behind a flipped over table.
"I got it, boss!" Grabbing one of the fallen Intergang weapons, the owner of which was now unconscious after being punched into the kitchen, Penguin's right hand man aimed and pulled the trigger only to find nothing happened. He tried again and again, cocking the rifle and pulling the trigger to no avail. "It's empty!"
By now, Penguin noticed a number of Intergang's weapons had run dry. He grabbed a nearby gang member by the collar and brought him in close. "Why didn't you bring more ammunition?"
"Th…there is no more ammunition. We've been cut off for months, no battery packs."
"Cretan!" Backhanding the man, Penguin grabbed hold of his umbrella and slid open a hidden compartment just as a service door burst open.
"Wonder Girl!" Robin yelled as he flung several Bird-a-rangs into the fight.
"Aww, and just when I thought I would have the dance floor all to myself." Performing a flyby past Robin, Wonder Girl used one of the chairs as a swatter to hit another henchman into the wall, leaving a cracked surface were he hit.
As Robin took out one of the remaining men in Penguin's employ, the owner of the lounge came out of his hiding place with his umbrella resting on a shoulder. "I would appreciate it if you two would cease and desist this instant. Otherwise," he then pressed a button on his umbrella's handle, making the top portion of it shoot across the room to reveal a sword, "I will be forced to dissect your little friend here."
Wonder Girl came to a stop and hovered in the air with her hand wrapped around a knocked out henchman's neck. Robin had his quarter staff imbedded in another thug's stomach as they looked over at the portly criminal. Their eyes grew wide when they saw him holding Bumblebee with his thumb on her back and midsection pressed against his sword. She was knocked out from being in the vicinity of the table when the red disks hit.
"Care to press your luck? Drop my men and hand your weapons over to my remaining muscle or I'll see to it your friend makes a good snack to my twin parakeets."
Not wanting to endanger their friend anymore, both Robin and Wonder Girl complied. The Boy Wonder had his weapon collapse and tossed it toward the bird man's feet.
"The belt as well."
Narrowing his eyes, Robin slowly moved his hand to his belt buckle and undid the clasp. Shedding his utility belt was like a dog being neutered. It was his lifeline, something Batman drilled into his head so he would never be apart from it unless absolutely necessary. Wonder Girl literally dropped her thug and reeled in her lasso. Her eyes never left the unconscious woman in Penguin's flippered hands as she placed it on a table and stepped away from it.
"As I said, I don't take kindly to intrusions of the hero variety in my club. Now…what ever shall I do to you, to sear that fact into your undeveloped brains?"
"Let us go and call it a day?" Wonder Girl answered.
"No, I think I'll have you deliver that message to the League yourselves." Turning to his remaining men, Penguin indicated they should take the discarded weapons. "I have plans on how you two will deliver that message, just as I have plans to punish these…Intergang Neanderthals and teach them what it means to attempt to cheat me on a deal."
AN:
Fairyvixenmaiden: The answer to your question will be answered as soon as the next part.