Batman's perspective:

"So what's the plan?" asked The Catwoman. She and The Batman were still trapped in the chamber deep inside the pyramid. The water pouring out of statues from above had risen to over a foot high.

"I'm not sure," said Batman. "This isn't going to be easy."

"Why not?" asked Catwoman. "Knowing you, you've got bombs."

"Yes," confirmed Batman. "Only problem is, the pyramids are thousands of years old. You should know; your ancestors built them. If I blow a hole in this, it's liable to cause a chain reaction that will cave the roof in on us! Maybe even, the entire thing."

"Oh," said a disappointed Catwoman.

"Our only chance," said Batman as he took two Batarangs out of his belt, "Is to carefully remove the lower blocks. But this will take some very nimble hands."

"Much more nimble you've got," said Catwoman. "No problem. I've been picking locks and dodging laser alarms since before I had a breast. I can do this. Now aren't you glad I made you take me on this trip, Batman?"

Batman handed over the Batarangs. "Hmm?" asked Catwoman.

"I am now," Batman finally admitted. "And you'd have been put away years ago if my taste in women wasn't so awful. Happy?"

"I waited three years to get that out of you," grinned Catwoman. "Thanks. Now zip it up. I need to concentrate."

Talia al Ghul's perspective:

Ra's al Ghul was on the phone. "Yes, you are to be my male heir. The pleasure is all mine. Please go to China and assume command. Thank you. Goodbye."

Talia knew who her father had been talking to. "Was that him?"

"Yes," said Ra's. "He will be your husband when all this is over. You need one, after all. The plan will destroy the Lazarus Pit. Without it I have a few good years left at most. To recreate this world falls to him and you."

Ra's was an ancient man with an ancient mind. He did not believe in sole female heirs. This left Talia wondering why she had chosen him over Bruce Wayne.

"Do my old senses detect second thoughts?" asked Ra's "Is this your objection to our traditions? Or do you still have feelings for The Detective? Or perhaps you are still unsure about this path?"

The answer was all three.

"Dear Daughter, this is something you must understand. The Detective is minutes away from death. There are people on my bases that will carry out my plan. You have made your choice. Be comfortable with that."

Talia sighed and realized that Ra's was right. "Yes, Father." I am sorry, Beloved.

Batman's perspective:

The water was now thirteen feet high and still rising. Batman was swimming. Catwoman surfaced. "Time for the good, the bad and the ugly. I know, I watch too many movies, even old ones. The good news is that I got a block out. One more and we're outta here. The bad news is the rebreather's out of power. Down to the fifteen or twenty minutes I can last underwater. The ugly is it looks like that clever bitch and her bastard dad are flooding the whole damn pyramid."

"Do you have to use so many cuss words?" asked Batman.

"I gotcha by the balls and I'm doing all the work, so Hell, yes," Catwoman grinned from her left ear.

"Get back down there when you can," said Batman. "I don't mind dying, but I will not leave the world at Ra's mercy."

"I, for one, wanna live forever," said Catwoman. "Trust me, I'm doing all I can." She dived into the water.

The waiting game. The water rose another few feet as seventeen minutes passed. Should've been here a long time ago.

He swam underwater to see Catwoman unconscious and floating in the water. Batman dragged her to the surface and began breathing air into her. No, please!

"You crooked cops ain't taking me alive," an only half-awake Catwoman shouted in Batman's face. Batman smiled and said softly, "Wake up. You're having a nightmare." Catwoman's eyes slowly opened.

"Guess I stayed down there too long," Catwoman realized. "It won't happen again."

"It sure won't," said Batman. "Because you're not going back down there. We need another plan."

"What other plan?" asked Catwoman. "You're not good enough with your hands. And from taking that block out, I can tell this place really is coming down if we try to blow a hole in it. Face it. It's our only chance."

Catwoman was right. Batman had to let her try. "Be careful."

Catwoman nodded. Seconds after she had submerged, she popped back up, surprising Batman.

"Don't ever try to protect me like that again, Batman," said Catwoman with fiery eyes. "I'm not a damsel in distress or a kid you trained. In fact, I've been living a dangerous life longer than you."

"Sorry," said Batman. "I won't patronize you again."

Catwoman went back down. The minutes that followed were agony for Batman. He knew he should have had his head examined for feeling this way about a criminal who had blackmailed him, but it was who he was. Besides, from a coldly rational standpoint, if he had no choice but to accept Catwoman, he might as well get comfortable.

After nine minutes, Catwoman submerged, huffing and puffing. "I-I've finally cleared a p-path to - ow!" she had bumped her head on the ceiling that the water had nearly reached.

"We need to get out of here right now," said Batman. "Can you make it by yourself?"

Catwoman looked at him fearfully. "Yeah. I'm tired and sore. And I think I feel a headache coming on. But I'm a survivor."

I didn't think you could. Batman gripped Catwoman in a martial arts throat lock to slow down the muscles in her neck.

"You son of a..." began Catwoman before passing out.

"Hate me if you want," Batman quickly spoke before Catwoman totally lost conscious. "But be alive." Batman took off his cape and wrapped it around Catwoman's head many times and tied it there. A few minutes of air were provided by the cape, making up for her being unconscious.

Holding Catwoman in one arm, Batman swam down and through the opening Catwoman had made. And so began a long swim.

Several minutes had gone by. Batman felt more and more sure that he had done the right thing. In her weakened state, Catwoman certainly would never have lasted this long underwater. But what about Batman? His body was crying out for air. No, don't drown, Wayne. A life is depending on you right now. And many others before long. Die on your own time.

But reality came calling. Batman's eyes closed. Then he felt himself wake up on impact with the outside of the pyramid that he was sliding down. And he was still holding Catwoman. His instincts and experience must have kept him going despite having passed out.

The two landed on the sandy ground after sliding off the pyramid. Batman removed the cape from Catwoman and put it back on. Catwoman awakened.

"Are you alright?" asked Batman as he knelt over Catwoman.

"Yeah," said Catwoman as she kissed the left side of Batman's mouth. "That was for dragging me to safety." She gritted her teeth and slapped Batman across the face, although without claws. "That was for breaking your promise."

"You're welcome and I'm sorry," said Batman as he carried Catwoman on the walk back to the plane. Since Ra's had other vehicles, he had not seemed to care about it, what with Batman and Catwoman dead. Or so he believed.

Batman placed Catwoman on a couch in the passenger's section of the plane. "Rest. As soon as you're able, put on your street clothes. I'll do the same. We've got a lot of work to do and only a day or two to do it in. Our next stop is Beijing, China."

Selina Kyle's perspective:

Bruce had landed just north of Beijing, China. Selina marveled at the site of a car waiting for them outside.

"Yes, my rental's waiting for me, courtesy of a silver spoon."

"So you can afford to get me a hat in Beijing," said Selina.

"What do you need with that?" asked Bruce.

"'Cause I've got a 'fro," said Selina. "I'd rather draw as little attention as possible."

"I'll get one for myself as well," said Bruce. "For a moment, I thought you were talking like you were my girlfriend."

"Who said I wasn't?" Selina decided to test Bruce by snuggling against his right arm with her hands and left cheek. Bruce was blushing but said nothing. Selina took that as an affirmative.

They walked into a store. Bruce used his credit card to buy two caps, which he and Selina put on. Noticing that Bruce had spoken Mandarin to make the purchases, Selina asked, "What don't you know?"

"I didn't go to Princeton for nothing," said Bruce.

"Would that be a sense of humor?" asked Selina.

"Bad day," said Bruce.

Now they both looked totally like ordinary tourists, although Bruce still had a belt of tools, and Selina still had a pair of clawed gloves on. Bruce drove them around awhile before parking near a specific building. "The sign says, 'Lady Shiva's Kwoon,'" explained Bruce. "Kwoons are Chinese martial arts schools."

"But we both know how to fight," said Selina.

"The headmistress, Lady Shiva," Bruce continued, "Is a great martial artist. Maybe the greatest in the world!"

"Besides you, you mean?" guessed Selina.

"She's a former member of The League of Assassins and still has contacts there," said Bruce. "She's our only lead on where in the world's largest country Ra's' base might be located."

Selina noticed that Bruce had not answered her question. Bruce conferred with a clerk in Mandarin. He led Bruce and Selina on.

"He's taking us to Shiva," explained Selina, who barely noticed. She was still chilled at the thought that there could possibly exist a better hand-to-hand combatant than The Batman.

The clerk left Bruce and Selina in a training room on the highest floor of the kwoon. A woman was in a training room but without students.

"Lady Shiva at your service," said this woman with folded hands and a military bow. She was smiling. But it was not a very pleasant smile. "My friends call me Sandra Wu-San. I've been expecting you."

"Bruce Wayne," said Bruce.

"Selina Kyle," said Selina with surprise that Shiva spoke English.

"Day names for daytime, I see," said Shiva. "Don't bother. I watch enough news to be one of the seven percent of all people to know who The Catwoman really is. And as for The Batman, I've seen how he and you walk, Mr. Wayne." Shiva was pointing at Bruce. "To a first class warrioress like myself, how people move is like a fingerprint."

"Don't," Bruce stopped Selina as she was thinking of striking to protect their secrets. "If she wanted to exploit our secret, she'd have done it by now."

"Unlike some people, I respect the privacy of others," Shiva stared hard at Selina. "But that does not mean I'm beyond pressing them to get what I want. You seek to save the world from The League of Assassins. I have information you need to do this."

"How the Hell do you know even half this shit?" demanded Selina.

"I was once a member of The League before I came to realize that Ra's al Ghul is a madman," explained Shiva.

"I see you know him," agreed Bruce.

"And as I already told you, I pay attention to detail. Here is the bargain. I am renowned as the greatest in Asia, if not the entire world! But I'm always seeking worthy adversaries."

"I don't like your attitude, Shiva," said Selina. "You're on!"

"You are not worthy, kittten," snickered Shiva. "As you Americans say, I could kill you with both arms tied behind my back! My challenge is to Mr. Wayne. Face me in a fair fight. No matter how it goes, I will tell you where Ra's al Ghul's strongholds are. Should I perish, seek one of the other masters. They'll provide the agreed-upon information."

"That's just it," said Bruce. "I want a condition to this battle. Both of us live to tell about it."

"Unacceptable," frowned Shiva. "Without the possibility of death, this battle loses all meaning."

"I won't kill," said Bruce. "I won't become a murderer."

"Is that what you see me as?" sneered Shiva with suppressed anger rising. "I am of the traditional noble warrior tradition of China. To me, it is barbaric not to inflict glorious death in victory. Defeat without honor is a shame for the helpless. Don't start. I can't expect you Westerners to understand."

"Hold it," said Selina. "I thought you Chinese were atheists."

"Most are," sighed Shiva. "True warriors are a dying breed even here, but it still means everything to me. You have no choice, Mr. Wayne. You need to know what I do. Don't delay."

Bruce turned to Selina. "Selina, you need to see this through."

"Of course we will," said Selina, not quite sure why Bruce thought he had to say that.

"I love you, Selina," Bruce said as he hugged his former foe.

"I've been waiting for that," smiled Selina. Bruce stepped onto the training mat. Why'd he break down like that? He's not expecting to lose, is he?

Bruce Thomas Wayne and Sandra "Lady Shiva" Wu-San took fighting stances. Selina gasped as she saw that Shiva's was flawless... and finally considered that Bruce really was about to die.

After forty-three minutes of shifting about to look for an opening, Shiva struck Bruce with a snap kick to the right hip, staggering him. A spinning left reverse elbow and a high snap kick had Bruce flat on his back.

Shiva, not one to waste her time, squatted, jumped and landed by kicking down at Bruce's chest. Rib would have sliced heart had he not log rolled away at the last moment. Oh, my God! He's gonna leave me the way Dad did - in a fight he probably, but not necessarily, had no control over.

As Bruce tried to stand, Shiva somersaulted and landed on Bruce, her legs on his shoulders. Shiva locked her fingers together to increase the power of the three elbow strikes she leveled on Bruce. Bruce then managed to wrestle Shiva off him, but as Shiva was about to be driven head-first into the mat, she shook out of Bruce's grasp and knocked him several steps back and down with a straight-handed thrust to the nose that knocked snot out.

"So this is the great Batman," Shiva shook her head. "Just another arrogant little Western boy. Not that Asians can measure up to my standards, but they can at least touch me." She slowly advanced again. Selina was afraid for Bruce, but she did not step in. They were in an entire school of skilled combatants. That was not a fight they could win.

Another flurry of hand strikes and kicks came at Bruce, but he managed to block or dodge them all. He countered with a right cross. Bruce pressed his advantage with two jabs and a headbutt that knocked Shiva flat.

"My apologies," said Shiva with respect.

"Not accepted, murderess," said Bruce with contempt.

But Selina was far from reassured. Those blows had not hurt Shiva as much as they should have. "You can't hold anything back, Bruce," screamed Selina. "If you're not as determined and ruthless as her, you'll never make it!"

"Absolutely not," shouted Bruce, although he kept his eyes on Shiva. "She's trying to kill. I can't." Selina's fear for Bruce was growing by the second.

Bruce and Shiva began exchanging blows. Most were blocked or dodged. Bruce was getting the worst of it, not only because he was getting most of the attacks that connected, but also, because he, unlike Shiva, was hitting with less than full force.

The imbalance of hits and force behind the hits between Bruce and Shiva went on for two minutes and twenty-three seconds before Shiva finalized her advantage with several muscle-number palm strikes to the abdomen and chest of Bruce. Bruce was now gasping for breath motionlessly. Lady Shiva pushed him over.

"Stop," pleaded Selina. "You beat him. Isn't that enough?"

"No," said Shiva. She turned to the fallen Wayne. "You are not the one to kill me. Pity. You should have listened to your lover. Then your chances would have nearly reached forty percent. Die well!" She stood over Bruce and raised her left hand with folded fingers. It was a death strike that could disable the throat with a single hit but required pin-point accuracy.

Selina Kyle could wait no longer. As Shiva prepared to strike, Selina was attempting to sneak up on her. Suddenly, Shiva spun around to face Selina. "Don't."

Instead, Selina began kicking at Shiva. Shiva easily blocked the kicks and responded with a knee to the gut and another under the chin, knocking Selina down. Shiva lifted Selina up above her head and tossed her into a wall, head first.

A foot was on Selina's cheek, pressing hard enough to make cracking sounds. Never in her life had Selina imagined anything could hurt this much. "I could kill you in an instant," threatened Shiva. "But I won't. You deserve to suffer, thief. What on Earth he sees in you, I don't understand."

"Please..." said Selina.

"Have a bit of dignity in your soon to be ended life," mocked Shiva. Taking her advice, Selina closed her eyes in an attempt to blunt the pain and succeeded just well enough to sit up and drive all ten claws into Shiva's stomach. Shiva fell, clutching her midsection in pain. Good thing I kept my gloves on.

"Bet that's more comfortable than getting crushed by your boot," panted Selina, showing Shiva her clawed and bloody gloves. "By the way, some eye for detail you turned out to have. Now let's see how badly you hurt your dance partner."

Selina walked over to Bruce, who was starting to recuperate. "You OK?"

"Yes," said Bruce. "You must have stopped her, but how?"

"Let's just say, I fight dirty," Selina draped Bruce's right arm around her neck and walked him to Shiva.

"You violated the terms," spat Shiva at both Bruce and Selina. "If you think I'm honoring my part after that..."

"If Ra's kills us all," warned Bruce, "You won't be able to get even with us."

Shiva closed her eyes in shame and said, "A compelling argument. Very well."

"Selina," said Bruce, "Set me down so I can write." He got a notepad and pen once he was on the ground.

"One is here in China," said Shiva. "Due west of the Yumen Pass. You can't miss it. Another is to the north of Lules, Sweden. I don't know where exactly the base in North Dakota is, save that Ra's will be there."

"That'll do," said Bruce.

"Save the world today," threatened Shiva. "But tomorrow, understand me. You have tainted an honorable battle. I will never forgive either of you, especially Kyle."

"Hope you're not making threats," said Selina. Despite her ambiguous gesture, she knew that Shiva intended to come to Gotham to kill them. One way to nip that in the bud.

"Selina, don't," said Bruce. "This may be her answer, but it isn't mine. Besides, she's bleeding out. To kill her now would be cold-blooded murder."

"And the ultimate act of cowardice," added Shiva.

They drove back to the plane. Selina hoped they would not regret leaving Lady Shiva alive. "How's your midsection?" asked Selina.

"Fine," said Bruce. Selina patted it. Bruce grunted in pain.

"Good as new," said Selina sarcastically.

"You were scared at certain points," said Bruce. "This is my life. Sure you want in it?"

"You don't give up, do you?" laughed Selina.

Once they reached the plane, Selina applied various medicine to the cuts and bruises on Bruce's gut and chest.

"I'm really sorry," said Selina. She was again afraid Bruce could not survive.

"Don't be," said Bruce. "You did plenty."

"Bruce," smirked Selina. "You're one Hell of a liar!"

Catwoman's perspective:

"Are you sure that's the right place?" asked Selina, pointing to a building in a forest.

"It's not a government building," answered Bruce. "There's no other reason to build it in a forest except Ra's al Ghul's mad plan. Besides, my Battablet's detecting a lot of energy usage here." He landed the plane just outside the jungle in which the building lay. Soon enough, Bruce and Selina had put on their suits to become The Bat and Cat.

"I'm the stealthier one," said Catwoman. "I should scout for a clear path to the place myself."

"This wouldn't be you not wanting to admit to patronizing me because I'm hurt?" asked Batman.

Hey, what's a relationship without constant arguing? Catwoman, brandishing a quarter, said, "We'll flip for it. If it's tails, you go." She flipped. Heads came up. Catwoman walked into the jungle. What Batman did not realize was that Catwoman had used a two-headed coin. It had been an efficient method of settling disputes she had with gang leaders and others she did business with.

Catwoman's scouting found her a path to the building. She also had to jump a few of Ra's men from behind. Catwoman may be a second-rate combatant, but none could match her stealth.

Returning to Batman, Catwoman said, "Follow me." After some time of walking, they saw the clearing. There were many men on patrol with rifles who stood between the building and its righteous saboteurs.

Batman's perspective:

A challenge lay before The Dark Knight and Princess of Plunder. "When I give you a 'Thumbs up' sign," directed Batman, follow me. Several seconds later, Batman saw a path that none of Ra's men were watching and gave Catwoman the sign; they moved under a jeep.

"Now what?" whispered Catwoman. "They'll never break long enough for us to get in."

Batman drew his Mini-Batjet and set it to fly around and into the opposite wall of the building. All Ra's men moved to investigate.

"Oh," realized Catwoman as she and Batman took the opportunity to advance to the building. "Nice move, baby."

"My Batgrapple is too loud," said Batman. "Can you climb this?"

"Sure," said Catwoman as she placed her claws in specific spots. She climbed, and Batman held on to her waist from behind. Batman spread his legs out and pressed his feet onto the wall to reduce how much weight Catwoman had to carry.

"I rather like this," Catwoman purred. Batman said nothing.

Once they reached a window, Batman opened it and climbed through to find a chef. "Say nothing," Batman said spookily. With the cook frozen in fear, Batman used the same nerve grip he had used on Catwoman earlier to knock out this man.

Batman and Catwoman scouted the place until they found a room with a a large computer, evidently the building's main one. Suddenly, Batman stopped.

"What's wrong?" asked Catwoman.

"I don't understand," said Batman. "The outside was full of thugs, but other than that chef, we haven't even found one. I have a feeling that those outside were a ruse for a..." he spun around to find a six-foot-eight man with tubes hooked into the back of his neck. "Bane."

"It is wise to not allow your ego to get in the way of your sense of reason, Batman," said Bane. "You humiliated me and took away years of my life. Revenge is mine. Besides, if I am to be Ra's heir, I must extinguish the one threat to his plan." Bane activated the pack of the powerful steroid on his back called Venom. Venom flowed through the tubes, increasing Bane's muscles.

No room to move from this newly superhuman foe. Great.

Bane advanced. Batman and Catwoman hit him with all they had. All they had was not enough. Bane kicked Batman away and decked Catwoman with a punch.

By the time Batman got back within striking distance, Bane had knocked Catwoman out. Batman was knocked down by Bane's fist and was being choked when something occurred to him. Bane's muscle growth had to include the large wads of muscle in the rears of his upper shins.

Batman drove his right knee into one of those large patches of muscle. Pushed into the shin bones, these enlarged muscles overwhelmed and broke the bones they were pushed into. Bane screamed as he fell, clutching his broken shin.

Batman managed to roll away before his body made him rest. Bane was still extremely strong, even without the use of a leg Batman could not afford for Bane to be on top of him.

After Bane's body had adjusted to the pain, Batman said, "Would you care to tell me how to shut down the system you're tearing up the world with?"

"I'll think about it," said Bane nonchalantly.

"When the Chinese police come," said Batman, they'll put you away for terrorism. And then Ra's will do this all over again with a different heir. You'll die in prison."

"I never said I would not do it," said Bane. "Take me to the computer." Batman did so. Bane did some working. Everything in the place turned off after that. Batman turned one his nightvision lenses and stirred Catwoman up.

"I see you finished the job," smiled Catwoman. Batman was phoning the police.

Soon enough, the authorities were on their way. Without the place's energy-powered machinery, Bane's men would not be able to defend themselves. Batman and Catwoman sneaked away and back to their plane.

"Where to?" asked Catwoman.

"Lules, Sweden," said Batman.

"Why not North Dakota?" asked Catwoman.

"Because," explained Batman, "Flying across the Atlantic or Pacific takes a very long time. I fear we won't have enough to do so twice."

"So we risk our home country?" asked Catwoman.

"We have no choice," said Batman.

"Has it occurred to you that we might not be able to save everyone? Heroes have to make hard choices."

"I don't accept that," said Batman.

"Why not?" asked Catwoman with authority.

"Because 'Hard choices' has justified too many tragedies. How do you think I, a member of society's elite, both as Bruce Wayne and as The Batman, have managed to keep my head high with so much corruption in the world? Because I never lose sight of what is right. Heroes never do. And Catwoman, if you can't accept that, you made the wrong choice when you took my secret identity to me and not the Mayor."

Catwoman's perspective:

There were no more words between Batman and Catwoman during the flight to Lules. Catwoman was troubled by this entire thing. Why had she made the choice she did? Blackmailing Batman may not have exactly been noble, but it was far more noble than the alternative, especially since Catwoman's primary motive was that she felt Batman could use some help. Indeed, she had saved his ass more than once already.

And that was the problem. As tragic as it was to lose her mother in childbirth because the family could not pay the medical bills and her father in part to police officers being too aggressive in dealing with him, Catwoman hardly viewed herself as a Martin Luther King or Betty Friedan. She only sought to survive in an ugly society. Then along came a man on the opposite side of the law. A rival but not an enemy. Not even someone she did not like. At the end of the day, Catwoman had done what she had for Batman.

But was he all she had done it for? Or had Batman inspired a heroic edge in Catwoman that even she had not believed existed. The reader should understand that to her, this was not a good thing.

She wished she could still believe that. After all, wasn't it supposed to be Catwoman manipulating Batman?

Soon enough, the two spotted a building resembling the one Bane had run in China and landed in front of it. This time there were no men outside.

"Another trap?" asked Catwoman as they departed the plane.

"Ra's would never be this obvious about it," said Batman. "Whatever it is, it's something different from a trap." He and Catwoman entered and scouted the building. Eventually, they found a large, bald-headed man named Ubu.

"Welcome, Detective," called Ubu. "I have been waiting years to repay my debt to you. And I see you brought The Catwoman, who I am fairly indifferent to. Madam, you are in the wrong place, at the wrong time." Ubu began chanting something in Swedish.

"No doubt you know what he's saying, Batman" said Catwoman, since Batman seemed to speak every single language. Must have been Bruce Wayne's preparation for business deals with companies from other countries.

"Actually, I don't," said Batman. "Whatever he's saying, it's far, far, from standard Swedish."

Within seconds, tremors could be heard. The ghostly images of two wolves descended through the ceiling to the ground, than transformed into corporeal wolf/man hybrids.

"Werewolves," explained Ubu. "This is a site where many were slain hundreds of years ago so the spirits of this long gone species are strong here. Best of luck."

"On the off-chance these are real werewolves," warned Batman. "Don't let them bite or scratch you.

"I watch movies," said Catwoman. "I know what their teeth do to people."

"I know you're an animal lover, but..." said Batman.

"Don't worry," said Catwoman. "I don't like dogs very much. Sniff me out, bark at, and bite me when I'm doing a job."

The werewolves charged. As the one targeting Catwoman neared, Catwoman leaped and wrapped her right leg around the werewolf's head so he couldn't bite. Catwoman held the wrists to immobilize the hand claws. It was time for offense. She kicked the werewolf in the groin, but he didn't flinch.

No! It's not possible!

With a jerk, Catwoman was thrown hard off the werewolf. He charged again. Catwoman caught his head trying to bite her, but he had the strength of a bear. The teeth came within inches.

Suddenly, the werewolf howled in pain as a thrown Batarang stuck into his neck. He fell and died. Batman held out his hand.

"Let me guess," Catwoman smiled gratefully. "Silver Batarang. You've gotta be luckiest son of a bitch who ever lived." She let Batman help her up.

"Now, Ubu," said Batman, "If you don't want the same, cooperate."

"I am far from finished, Detective," said a defiant Ubu. He began chanting again.

"Uh-uh," said Catwoman, brandishing her whip and charging. "You ain't pullin' that trick again on us again." She lashed out so the whip wrapped around Ubu's neck several times, preventing his spell and enabling Catwoman to choke him hard. The large, powerful man did manage to drag Catwoman off her feet with a jerk of the whip, but a flying kick from Batman finished Ubu off.

"That should be about all here," said Batman as Catwoman holstered her whip.

Suddenly, Catwoman noticed a familiar man and woman.

"It's been a long time," said the man.

"This is not how I would have liked to meet you for the first time, 'young' lady," said the woman. Catwoman's heart sank upon hearing that.

"This is no place for tourists," said Batman.

"They're not tourists," explained Catwoman. "It's Mama Maria and Daddy Brian."

"I thought your parents were dead," said Batman skeptically.

"You promised me how many times that you were a good girl and would grow up to be a good woman?" asked Brian angrily. "You lied. You've done more bad shit than I could've possibly imagined!"

"I'm sorry," pleaded a heartbroken Selina. "I was so angry at the city for..."

"Do you think we never had reason to get mad?" asked Maria. "We're of the same background as you. And as for you, Batman, whatever you're doing, stop. As flattering as it is to a mother like me, she is a bad person. She doesn't deserve you. Never did, never will. She'll betray you to your death, take your money and company, and destroy all the future good you'll do."

Brian and Maria disappeared and Selina felt sick. Batman, noticing this walked over and said, "Pull down your mask." Selina did so.

Feeling Selina's forehead and throat, Batman said in horror. "That illusion did something to you. Fear and guilt are driving your heart rate and blood pressure up. You'll die if you don't come down."

"What makes you think it wasn't my real parents?" asked Selina. "Ubu created those werewolves, didn't he? And has it occurred to you that I may be getting what I deserve?"

"You're a thief," Batman acknowledged. "And the way you made yourself a part of this wasn't perfect. But God knows I'm not perfect. You've done plenty of good in your time. Without you, I'd probably be dead today. Below those thieving impulses is a heart of gold, even if you don't always listen to it."

"You believe that?" asked Catwoman as she started to calm down.

"I guess I always have," said Batman as he hugged her. Catwoman's blood pressure and beating heart slowly returned to normal as they embraced.

"I'm never taking back what I revealed about myself, am I?" asked Batman.

"Not a chance," smiled Catwoman as she pulled her mask back over her face. "Tell me how much you adore me later. Let's finish this."

Batman and Catwoman eventually found the machinery that evidently injected energy into the ground break of a significant percentage of the world's land mass. Batman put a plastic explosive down next to it.

"We've got to get out of here and take Ubu a safe distance away," said Batman. "Then I trigger this bomb. It and these machines will create a chain reaction." They did so. Well away from the place, Batman got something out his belt and pushed a button.

Within seconds, the whole place had gone up. "Better than the Fourth of July," said Catwoman.

"Don't get cocky, Selina," warned Batman. "Remember that we haven't seen the al Ghuls since escaping the pyramid in Egypt. The hardest part is likely still to come. I wonder why Ubu's last trick had nothing for me."

Catwoman laughed. "Something for the holier-than-thou Batman to feel bad about? You're not Superman but that still ain't gonna work on you."

Batman's perspective:

There was no need to change clothes on the flight to Ra's last remaining base. Batman and Catwoman knew it was in the American state of North Dakota.

"I haven't gotten any sleep..." yawned Catwoman before touching her chin in thought.

"Since you blackmailed me a day and a half ago?" asked Batman.

"That sounds about right," chuckled Catwoman. "But 'blackmail' is such a strong word. I just did what I had to to get you to do the right thing in bringing me. You know you prefer it this way. Speaking of which, you couldn't have fully recovered from your injuries by now."

"I'll live," said Batman.

"Give me the basics on flying a plane," offered Catwoman. "Since there's nothing across the Atlantic, I can handle it that long."

"Your talents are in speed and stealth, not handling physically grueling tasks," said Batman. "Go to the couch and sleep."

"I don't need to," promised Catwoman

"Perhaps I haven't made myself clear," said Batman more forcefully.

"I definitely haven't made myself clear," Catwoman returned Batman's verbal force with her own. "Nobody, especially a guy who I've all the leverage over, tells The Catwoman what to do." But thirteen minutes later. Catwoman had dozed off anyway.

Batman carried Catwoman off to the couch to make her more comfortable. Some people aren't cut out for all-nighters.

Batman looked down on her. She was right about one thing. While the way he and Catwoman had ended up traveling together was not ideal, there was a part of Batman that was happy about it. He loved this woman. Criminal or not, he loved her. Besides, he believed she could and probably was redeeming herself. Otherwise, he could have never saved her from being literally dying of guilt at the hands of the spirits of her parents or other hallucinations designed to be Catwoman's .

Of course, believing in something was different from it actually happening. Rationally speaking there were three possibilities. Catwoman could change or force Batman to turn to crime. Batman did not like leaving anything to chance.

As the plane flew over Detroit, Michigan, Catwoman walked back into the cockpit, yawning.

"Welcome back, Selina," greeted Batman.

"You put me on the couch where I'd be too comfortable to get up," interpreted Catwoman. "I don't know whether to thank you or claw your eyes out. We're gonna need to work on your non-sense of humor."

"Good luck," cautioned Batman. "My butler's been trying for over twenty years."

Soon enough, they were in North Dakota. They began searching the state by air. With Catwoman surveying close-ups at some length she reported she'd seen nothing large enough to be the sister to the others in the triumvirate of oblivion.

"Aw, man," Catwoman complained, "Looks like that Shiva bitch was lying her ass off!"

"Unlikely," Batman disagreed. "Ever since she left the League of Assassins, she hasn't been involved in anything wrong except murder, and that's a part of her ancient code of honor, the warrior's way. Besides, Ra's also confirmed that he'd be here."

"Unless Shiva's back on the team and was specifically ordered to lie," said Catwoman. "In fact, that's the only way it all makes sense."

Several minutes of searching later, an explosion split the air, and the jet shivered.

"We've been hit," screamed Catwoman.

"Yes," said Batman. "And from where the sound - I'm losing control. We must have lost an engine. Don't worry. I brought parachutes."

"What if they hit us again?" asked Catwoman.

"You've been watching too many movies," said Batman. "It's hard to find skydivers. Even harder to hit them. Would you rather take your chances with a parachute or a crashing plane?" That was that. They dropped out of the plane and activated the parachutes they had strapped on.

But then they saw a helicopter flying towards them.

"I thought you said they couldn't find us," said Catwoman with a catlike growl.

"I said it was hard to find us," reminded Batman. But he knew that was a inadequate explanation for the situation they were in.

As the helicopter closed in, it cast a net that contained Batman and Robin. A helicopter door opened and a woman in a pilot's suit jumped out. She was saved by the safety rope attached to her. She took aim with a sniper rifle and opened rapid fire.

Batman had not felt a thing but Catwoman had been shocked into paralysis.

"Catwoman, wake up," Batman shook her back to her senses.

"We're alive," Catwoman laughed with joy. But Batman was aware of enough to feel far from relieved.

By this point, their female captor had climbed back into the helicopter and said over a military-issue voice amplifier, "Hello, my Beloved and his... poor choice."

"You're a sore loser, Talia," taunted Catwoman. "What's wrong? Did the magic terrorist's spoiled princess just not get her way for once?"

"You have been a thorn in my father's side," said a faintly angry Talia, "But no more. I will take you home. More than that, I cannot say."

"No problem," said Catwoman. "I'll get us out of these in a jiffy."

"No," said Batman. "She didn't just shoot to scare us. If you'll look, many of the strings are gone. these parachutes won't work anymore."

"Oh," Catwoman said, disheartened. "Then that's it. We're about to be put in the dog pound even if we're not dogs."

"We can't give up that easily," said Batman with great resolve. "Billions of people are depending on us."

"I know," said Catwoman. "That's the worst part."

"I know what you're saying," nodded Batman. "Believe me. But we've been in worse spots on this mission alone. Take heart. We'll get through this."

Batman hoped so. They had to fight like there was no tomorrow because there may not have been. Whatever issues they had that made mutual trust difficult had to be put aside at all costs!

The helicopter reached the earth. Four patches of apparently synthetic grass alongside real grass opened to reveal an underground base. No wonder we couldn't find it.

The helicopter landed. Batman and Catwoman noticed that Ra's men used scimitars, presumably because they would attract less attention than guns. Batman and Catwoman were cut out of the net but still held hostage by the swords that surrounded them.

"Yes, Father," said Talia on a communicator with a smile. "I have them." She hung up and grinned at Catwoman.

"Brent, Mohamed, Takuda, make her watch what I am about to do." These men holstered their swords so they hold Catwoman and force her to keep her eyes on Talia. Talia walked over to Batman with a sword and held it on his shoulder, sharp side facing his neck.

"No," shouted Catwoman. Instead of cutting Batman's head off, Talia kissed him.

"Oh, yes," said Talia smirking at Catwoman, who was hissing at her. She cut off Batman's belt and said, "Her weapons are clawed gloves and the whip in her holster." Her men took these away.

Soon enough, Talia's father, Ra's al Ghul, entered the room.

"Guess it's the boys' turn to talk smack," noted Catwoman.

Sure enough, Ra's asked Batman, "I will admit a grudging admiration, Detective. I could never have imagined that you would have ever escaped the trap we sprang on you in Egypt, let alone shut down two of my bases of operations. I even understand you defeated the great Lady Shiva."

"I beat Shiva," said Catwoman. "Not that I couldn't have if he hadn't softened her up, but..."

"Whoever deserves more credit," said Ra's, "You have done well. But it is all over. Before I recreate the world, I must ask one question: why have you done what you did? In your alter-ego, Detective, you vainly donate millions of your dollars a year to save the environment. And Ms. Kyle I understand even less. She is a victim of prejudice and the over-class's abuse of the common people. How is it possible that you do not understand what we are trying to do?"

"Because you're insane," said Batman. "Murdering people doesn't solve these problems. It only makes them worse."

"I'll break it down for you," offered Catwoman. "Saving the world by killing billions of people is bullshit. I never made it past the third grade and I can still do this math."

"Slay them," commanded Ra's.

"Father, no," Talia objected. "Without their weapons, they are no threat. We can hold them hostage. Perhaps my beloved will accept our way once it is officially the only possible way."

"I doubt it," said Ra's, "But I have no desire to see you sad in our moment of triumph."

Batman and Catwoman were taken to and locked in a room similar to a prison cell.

"I really hate Count Dracula and his Bitch," said Catwoman.

"Don't get mad," suggested Batman. "Get even."

Ra's al Ghul's perspective:

"Well done, my daughter," complimented Ra's.

"Not well enough enough to prevent our other bases from being destroyed," lamented Talia.

"They can be rebuilt after we are finished with the Americas," said Ra's. "The point is, the Detective may have won a few battles with us, but one does not win wars against the al Ghuls. Do you believe you can persuade him to accept you?"

"He will have little choice after today," inhaled Talia with a smile. "His world will be gone. I do expect him to be stubborn, but if there is something I have learned in two hundred forty years... it is patience."

"And the thief?" inquired Ra's.

"Thieves have no place in a perfect world," said Talia. "After all, it is perfect."

"I will delay her execution long enough for her to see a reshaped world. I do not want either of them to miss that. But it will not reshape itself. To the control room."

Ra's smiled as well as they walked together. Thousands of years' worth of work were finally paying off. Heaven as it existed in every religion was about to become reality.

Batman's perspective:

It was time for Catwoman to work her magic. "Hey, handsome," she said as she strutted sexily towards the guard just outside the cell.

"Don't even think about it," said the guard. But Batman could see his face weakening. Batman himself was enticed, even from a distance away.

Catwoman pressed her head and shoulder against the bars. "C'mon, the boring life of a guard needs a little excitement." She ran her now-bare right hand down his chest and stomach. He exhaled. So far so good.

As Catwoman's right hand stole the guard's sword, the left one grabbed him by the uniform so he could not escape. "The keys, sucker," Catwoman demanded. The guard handed them over. Batman took them, opened the cell door, and knocked out the guard with a couple punches.

"Wait here," said Batman as he ran towards the guard at the door. Before he could activate his communicator, Batman slapped it away. A knee to the hip and elbow over the head took him out. Batman now had his own sword.

As Catwoman walked towards Batman, he said, "I've never understood why so many men lose control at the sight of a pretty face."

Catwoman grinned. "You have no room to talk, Batman. He wasn't a challenge, but I've been doing this to you for years. I hate to break it to you, but you're a lot easier."

Batman was anxious to talk about something else and had just the thing. "N-now that we're w-without my belt and your gloves and whip, this s-swords are all we have."

"I know," said Catwoman, "But no changing the subject."

"Do you know how to use that?" asked Batman, mentally disciplining himself again.

"Yeah," said Catwoman.

"How is it used?" asked Batman.

"The sharp side goes into the other guy after a lot of banging against the other guy's sword," said Catwoman.

"Then you've got a lot to learn," said Batman. "First, defend against my - no, that's not how you hold a scimitar. Unlike katanas and broad swords, a scimitar has a short hilt but thick blade. It's specifically meant for one-handed use. I don't see your off-hand moving."

"OK," said Catwoman defensively as she removed her left hand from the sword.

"Remember to parry," said Batman as he advanced. Catwoman swung. Batman parried her blade away, and the force of the push knocked Catwoman a few steps back and into a crouch.

"If I was a guard, you'd have literally lost your head," said Batman as Catwoman got up. "Learn to parry or you won't last five minutes."

"You don't have to be so damn critical," said a frustrated Catwoman.

"I don't love being tough," Batman repeated an epitaph he had used on Batgirl, Robin, and Nightwing. "I'm tough because I lo... defend yourself."

And for the next fifteen minutes, they trained. Catwoman's skill with the scimitar improved well enough to reach the top fifty percent of Bruce Wayne's high school fencing class. They paused as the ground began rumbling.

"What's that sound?" said Catwoman in horror.

"It's begun," Batman stated the obvious.

"Am I ready?" asked Catwoman.

Not nearly but what choice do we have?

"Yes," said Batman.

They charged through the next room. A few men were there. "Behind me," commanded Batman.

"Aren't I ready?" asked Catwoman. Fortunately, Batman was able to get the brunt of them to target him. He and Catwoman disarmed their opponents and delivered non-fatal wounds to disable them.

Eventually, they reached the control room. "To your quarters," said Ra's to his men as he and Talia seized their swords. The common grunts left.

"So you wish to perish with the destroyers of this once-great planet, Detective?" threatened Ra's. "Well, all you had to do was ask."

"The only thing that perishes today is your mad dream," said Batman as his sword and Ra's' clanged together.

"I have no idea what my Beloved sees in a petty thief," said Talia as she and Catwoman stared each down, looking for an opening. "But I will save him as well as the world."

"I think he could do better with me than a murderous terrorist," said Catwoman. She dodged a slash by Talia, who blocked a counterattack.

Batman knew that Catwoman was no match for Talia in a sword fight. He wanted to help, but Ra's, obviously realizing this, was driving him out of the room.

"You cannot save her, Detective," said Ra's. "But why should you? A choice between one of the planet's saviors and a common criminal is no choice at all. Your lack of judgment never ceases to amaze."

Though Batman's aristocratic education enabled him to be very skilled with a sword, Ra's seemed to be his better. Batman fell back until he felt a wall stop him.

"This is what thousands of years of experience does for you," proclaimed Ra's as he charged. Batman barely dodged the swing. Ra's' sword tip snapped and deflected off the wall into his chest.

"Let me help you," said Batman, taking off his cape to be used to stop the bleeding. Instead, Ra's thrust at his stomach, cutting through the armor. Batman groaned and fell down as he bled and covered his wound with the cape.

"We die together," smiled Ra's. "But I, victoriously." He began coughing before losing consciousness.

However, Batman now felt better. The wound must have hurt worse than it was. He took off his right glove and touched Ra's. Nerveless. Batman felt awful but at least he had tried to save Ra's.

Catwoman's perspective:

As Catwoman and Talia's swords wrestled together, The Princess of Plunder saw that she was losing her grip, and hopped, and rolled, away.

"A little harder than your movies make it look, eh, American?" asked Talia. She advanced. The blades clanged again. Again, Catwoman felt her grip lessen. Maybe I should play it my way.

With a quick somersault and slash, Catwoman managed to knock Talia's weapon away. Talia was barely able to duck the follow-up slash and run to her sword, retrieving it.

Catwoman sensed that she had finally discovered the winning formula and ran, jumped somersaulted, and slashed. Talia dodged and then stopped. But Catwoman didn't. As she landed, she started running again, leaping at, and bouncing off a wall. But this time, Talia was ready, and caught The Princess of Plunder in the left shoulder.

Catwoman screamed as she clutched her bloody shoulder, and her sword was now out of reach. Before could move for it, Talia was standing directly over her with a triumphant grin.

"Look," said Catwoman. "This won't work. Batman always wins. And if you kill me, he'll never forgive you. And if I'm wrong, you'll need someone like me who can spy on potential traitors in this new world of yours."

"I knew you could not help who you are, thief," said Talia. "Die as you lived: a coward." She raised her sword up to come straight down on Catwoman's head.

Catwoman spat perfectly into Talia's left eye. This stunned her enough for Catwoman to trip her up with a log roll. Retrieving her own sword, Catwoman ran over to a half blind Talia who was up again.

Catwoman knew she had to go for the quick win while Talia was blind in an eye. She held her sword with both hands, despite the pain in her left shoulder. No, one hand. Like Batman said. She moved her left hand to her right wrist. This added power without compromising her hold on the scimitar. She began slashing. The half-blind Talia could only parry. On the eighth try, Talia's sword broke. Catwoman advanced.

Talia cursed in Arabic and said, "I know the difference between those who would care that they won dirty, those that do not... and those who like it. Take your blood, scum."

"If you say so," said Catwoman, winding up.

"No," said Batman, running into the room.

"Sorry you're late hero," said Catwoman with pride, "But the damsel in distress took care of herself. Ow! Shoulder could use some cleaning up, though."

As Batman dried up the wound with his right glove, Talia asked, "Where is Father."

"Dead," explained Batman. "It was an accident. I tried to save him, but he wouldn't have it."

"Sounds like him, the stubborn fool," sighed Talia. "You may have noticed his plan is in progress. Now that he is... gone, there is only one man I love. You know not how to shut down the system, but I will if you ask."

"Can we trust her?" asked Catwoman.

Instead of answering, Batman asked Talia, "Will you?" Talia walked over to the computer console and got to work. Soon enough, the tremors stopped.

"That's it?" asked Batman.

"Indeed," said Talia. "Though archaeologists may make some interesting discoveries soon."

"What now?" asked Catwoman.

"Victory is yours," said Talia with a bow. "I see no reason to kill my Beloved if my father is no longer around to order it. In fact, I will loan you a jeep with which to return to that mansion of yours."

"I'd appreciate that," said Batman. He seemed grateful, but Catwoman was most suspicious. She especially did not like Batman thanking Talia for helping them or they way they looked at each other.

Just admit it, girl. You're jealous.

Bruce Wayne's perspective:

Although Batman and Catwoman had gotten their equipment back, they had needed street clothes as well the civilians' drive back to the American Northeast that was ahead of them. Since Bruce's wallet had been destroyed with the plane, he had to borrow money from Talia for the trip. After destroying Ra's machinery, Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle, and Talia walked to the jeep.

"I'll pay you back in full," promised Bruce.

"Do nothing for her," said Selina spitefully. "This was all her fault."

"You seem less than confident he loves you, thief," smiled Talia.

Once they reached the jeep, Talia said, "Beloved, I want to say goodbye to you... in private."

"Uh-uh," said Selina.

"Go," said Bruce. "She did the right thing in the end. That should count for something."

"I don't know whether to tell you to scream if you need me," grumbled Selina as she entered the passengers side, "Or that we always know when we're being cheated on."

Bruce and Talia stared at each other for minutes before Talia said, "Will you take me to the police?"

"I know I should," said Bruce. "But I won't. If nothing else, I understand your appreciation of your father. I'm sorry I couldn't save him."

"Do not be," said Talia sadly. "The thief. Is she the one?"

"She'll have to be," said Bruce.

"I do not understand," argued Talia, "Why you can forgive her for stealing and coercing you into this relationship, but you cannot forgive me for the little matter of nearly getting you killed."

"Is that a joke?" asked Bruce.

"I suppose it is in a way," said Talia. "Farewell, Beloved."

Bruce walked over to hug her, but was stopped by a honking horn. Bruce entered the jeep and drove away.

"I warned you," said Selina.