In the Shadow of the Bat

League Of Assassins

Nyssa Raatko smiled grimly as the heir to the Demon's Head warily watched her sister emerge from the airplane on the small airfield out on the edge of town. Unlike her Talia had a more European look, her dark hair and faintly tinted skin granting the impression of royalty. 'Unlike I,' Nyssa admitted, knowing she looked more like a gypsy than a model.

"Watch yourself," Cassandra Cain warned softly as her eyes watched the passengers as well as the stewardesses and crew, "I see Shiva over there. And I think there are several members of her branch of the Assassins along too."

"Are our people also ready?" Nyssa murmured, wearing a armor jacket and long pants. It wasn't that she didn't trust her sister, she trusted her to be deadly and treacherous. It was in both of their natures, really, inherited from their father.

"Snipers are in position, as are the guards," Cass answered coldly.

"Archers?" Nyssa wondered.

"High powered rifles," Cass replied to her dryly as she added with a smile, "it's about time we moved into the twenty-first century."

"Well done," Nyssa whispered as Talia and the others reached them.

"Nyssa, beloved sister," Talia smiled insenserely.

"Talia, dear sister," Nyssa agreed as she kissed her cheek. "You look well."

"Thank you," Talia nodded. "I finished up my service with the Society, and now I'm attending to personal projects. How is the training going?"

"Mother," Cass nodded respectfully to the woman commonly known as Lady Shiva, taking in the similar shape of their faces, matching stances and all of the other similarities. 'How did I not see it before?' she wondered.

"Daughter," Shiva acknowledged flatly. "You did not kill me, last time we met."

A slight smile teased Cass' lips, "I did kill you, it just wasn't permanent."

Shiva nodded slightly, "True."

"Will we have to try again?" Cass asked, tensing just a bit in preperation.

"No," Talia cut them off firmly. "This is not the time to be settling old grudges," she informed them both firmly.

"Understood," Shiva agreed.

Nyssa nodded and Cass relaxed just slightly. "As you wish," she agreed as the drivers opened up the two waiting stretch limos.

"Take your pick," Nyssa offered politely.

Talia nodded to two of her followers, who swiftly examined the vehicles before nodding their approval. "We'll take the first one," she smiled as her team took a silent cue and began to smoothly climb in.

"We'll meet you at the safe house, then," Nyssa said respectfully.

"We cannot go straight to the new training hall?" Talia demanded grouchily.

Nyssa gave her a steady look, "You have not heard of operational security?" She sniffed, "You may enjoy people in costumes dropping into your bases, but I do not."

Talia reared up in anger, then deflated a bit as she realized she was right. "Of course," she conceded, "you know your security section better than I."

"Follow us in," Nyssa nodded as she boarded the limo, trusting the snipers to stay in position until needed later. "Is the route clear?" Nyssa asked as she settled on one of the seats, Cass sitting down by her side.

Cass nodded shortly, "Yes, Nyssa. I have covert teams scattered along the route as a precaution, as well." The two side of the Assassins had been covertly snipping at each other ever since Cass had defeated Shiva, but a all out war would leave them far to vulnerable to their enemies. Therefore Cass and Nyssa had to make sure their enemies were all right, or risk triggering a destructive war.

Her thoughts clearly echoing Cass' Nyssa said, "Politics make for strange bedfellows."

"That it does," Cass agreed as they drove through town, eventually stopping at a small hotel. They arranged for Talia and her servants to check in, then they lead them to the basement and the warren of tunnels that crisscrossed the town.

"Clever," Talia admitted as they walked along a torch lined hallway.

"It gives our guests a convenient access," Nyssa said, "as well as allowing us access to potential threats to the League. We have tunnels connecting to all the local hotels, in fact."

"And police," Cass smiled coldly, "as well as much of the city government. Of course, they don't know who we really are."

"Oh?" Talia asked.

Cass smirked, "They think they're being paid off for a smuggling operation by the American mafia. We even have some smuggled weapons and other items to back up the story if we have to abandon the base."

"Why do you hide?" Strike asked, the yellow and black clad assassin trailing behind his mistress Talia, "You should be proud...."

"Should I silence the fool?" Cass offered dryly.

"Do not question your betters," Shiva struck, slamming Strike against a way. "Little fool," she broke his arm casually, "we are assassins! Secrecy is our greatest weapon. If the enemy does not know we exist, they cannot save themselves!"

"I...," Shrike whimpered in pain, "I am most sorry, Lady. Please, accept my apology."

"My lady?" Shiva looked at Talia.

"He has potential," Talia conceded, "don't kill him yet."

Shiva let him go, stepping away with a faintly happy smile. "Next time," she purred to Shrike.

"Shall I let my healers help him?" Nyssa wondered as they set out once more.

"No, leave him be," Talia smiled coldly, "a little pain may be educational."

Cass made a mental note to check up on Strike later. He would resent having been made a fool of, and might want to take steps against them later. They walked out of the tunnel into a wider reception area where several guards watched attentively, near enough to act but far enough away to give them a chance against throwing blades or other weapons.

Shiva swept the room with her eyes, mentally cataloging the layout as she followed Talia in. "You made some changes," Talia noted.

"A few," Nyssa smiled without elaborating. "We're working with our latest trainees, would you care to see?"

"Not right now," Talia said, "we have things to discuss."

"I can take you...," Cass started.

"Alone," Talia said firmly.

Nyssa met her eyes a moment, then she nodded slightly, "We'll go to my quarters, we can talk safely there."

"I should be with you," Cass whispered.

"She won't try to kill me," Nyssa answered softly, "not this directly."

Cass made a face, "Be careful."

Nyssa stopped to caress her cheek then kissed Cass lingeringly. "Always," she vowed.

To be continued....