In the Shadow of the Bat

Chapter Forty-one

Linda Frittawa liked to work at night. It was probably a hold over from her albinism, which she had cured using Scarecrow's technology. Now she was basically healthy, though she was carefully charting her condition. Couldn't be too careful.

She was also being VERY careful not to screw with her boss, the Order of St Dumas.

Admittedly, when Sister Sara first came to her with the plan to betray the Penguin, Linda had intended to take the innocent Nuns for everything she could. Right up until she met the warrior monks, who were quite capable of breaking her in half. And then she got a sense of how powerful the Order really was.

"Have we determined what to do with Cobblebot's people smuggling?" Sara asked in their usual evening meeting.

"I think we're going to have to finish shutting it down," Linda admitted. "The Penguin had contacts internationally... we lost those when he died."

"Hmm. Sad... we've had requests," Sara added, referring to the recent Clayface incident.

Linda shrugged helplessly. "We have divested the drug sales, as well as the prostitution network," she reported. "We are left with the legal businesses, along with the Iceberg Lounge."

Sara blinked at her. "So WHY are we still taking in so much money?" she asked plaintively.

Linda had never seen anyone so distressed over being successful. "You really don't want to be running this, do you?" she noted mildly.

"If Cobblepot hadn't threatened the Order when we first contacted him, I'd have happily let him be and moved on," Sara admitted.

'Oswald was dumber than I thought,' Linda thought.

"And the Azrael search?" Sara asked tiredly.

"We have people searching the city, but...," Linda trailed off. Both knew Gotham was huge, and that didn't count in the sewers and so on.

"We need another private investigator," Sara sighed. Both women knew they couldn't go to the cops. For obvious reasons...

"I have contacted a computer expert, the Calculator, to look into this as well," Linda added.

"You think Azrael had assistance?" Sara asked.

"Jean Paul disappeared from records very, very thoroughly," Linda said.

"He was trained to stay secret," Sara noted.

"Possibly, but to be disappeared across so many records? He clearly had help."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Barbara Gordon sneezed suddenly.

"Got a cold?" Steph Brown asked.

"No. Must be allergies," Barbara noted, being someone who did not believe you sneezed when someone talked about you.

"So... why the call?" Steph asked.

"For various reasons, Cass wants to step back from being Batgirl full time," Barbara explained, "She was wondering if you'd be interested."

"WHAT." Steph yelped.

"I take it that's a yes?" Barbara smiled.

"HELL, yes. But why, though?" Steph asked.

"She and Nissa want to try to hunt down the remaining League of Assassin cells," Barbara explained. "It'll take them away from Gotham most of the time."

Steph made a face, "I guess that makes sense."

Barbara smiled wryly, "I tried talking her out of it. But they're both very determined..."

"Okay," Steph conceded. She paused, "Does this mean Cass is going to train me again? Because that was awful."

Barbara snorted, "I remember. I think I'll ask Dick and Tim to work on you, instead."

"Kinky," Steph teased.

"You are SO bad," Barbara laughed.

"So, I can show up to spar at the Clocktower whenever," Steph hesitated. "Can we redesign the suit a bit?" she asked, "I'm not that all black type."

"We'll upgrade it," Barbara agreed. "Purple, a bit?" she teased.

"Please," Steph shrugged.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hub City, A Tuesday. 8 PM.

"Have I said thank you for coming out here with me?" Renee Montoya noted as she changed to her suit.

Kate Kane looked amused, "Oh come on. It's not like I'm tied to Gotham."

The two were in a penthouse suite in a highrise in Hub City. The rent was hilariously low, as they were desperately trying to attract visitors. The only economic development in the city was Fox Munitions, and gangs recruiting.

Renee was there because Hub had been the stomping grounds of her old mentor, Vic Sage. He was a hero there, and tried to save the city. Sadly it was too much for one man... he walked away, and eventually died. Renee felt a sort of obligation to help the city, but she wasn't crazy enough to try and do it alone.

Once Renee was in her suit, Kate changed to her Batwoman uniform. "So what's the plan?" she asked.

"Fox and their private security have the area around the factories nailed down," Renee noted, "I'd like to do a general city patrol."

Kate noted her tone of voice as they slipped out on the balcony as she said, "You don't like the Rent-A-Cops?"

"No," Renee admitted as she donned her mask and activated the bonding gas, "but I can't really blame Fox. The cops here are worse than Gotham."

"Huph!" Batwoman grunted slightly as they swung out over the city.

Hub City was less built up than Gotham, but they were still able to covertly drop into a deserted alley. They intended to do a street patrol then head back to rest... baring unexpected troubles.

"Gimmie your money!" the drunk with a knife demanded.

Question and Batwoman just looked at him a moment.

"What's with the funny outfits?" he slurred right before Batwoman kicked the knife out of his hand.

Question calmly stepped up and punched him out.

"Well, I guess that was the welcoming committee?" Batwoman joked.

"Not much of a challenge," A woman's voice came from nearby.

Both women spun around to see a attractive Asian woman with long black hair. Her smile was friendly, but her eyes were cold.

"Shiva," Question recognized her, moving to get between her and Batwoman.

"I am not here to fight, little Question," Shiva noted, amused. "You are here because of Vic?" she asked.

"Yeah," Question admitted, "I felt I owed him something."

Shiva nodded, "I, too. Be careful, though... this city is unforgiving of heroes." With that, she turned and strode away.

Question puffed out a relieved breath.

"So who was she and why were you worried?" Batwoman had to ask.

Question looked at her oddly, "You haven't met Lady Shiva, I guess?"

"No," Batwoman admitted.

"She is, probably, the world's greatest martial artist," Question explained.

"Seriously?" Batwoman blinked. She paused, "Better than Batman?"

"She hasn't killed him, so there's that," Question admitted. "But I suspect she just doesn't want to deal with the trouble that killing him would cause."

"Eeep," Batwoman 'eeped' softly.

To be continued...

Notes: I haven't really DONE anything with Linda Frittawa aka Fright, so there's that. As she's a former scientist and one assumes smart, I decided she wouldn't plot against her boss.

In the comics, Cass literally just shows up, gives Steph the Batgirl costume, and leaves. That's it. Struck me as weird, so doing my take.

More Hub City bits. I find it odd that characters aren't scared of Lady Shiva, I mean, she kills high level martial artists with her BARE HANDS. For fun & training. So, yeah.