Thanks for all the feedback. Here's chapter #2. Sorry its so short, the
next one will be longer, I promise. And very interesting. ;) -krtshadow
Chapter 2: Canary Sighting
When I woke up in the morning, I once again resisted the urge to talk to Babs and quickly got dressed for the day. I planned to buy a motorcycle today, and that little job took most of the day. I knew that I probably wouldn't need it for long, one way or another, but I needed it to be both affordable and able to actually work beyond the car lot. I picked up one of the people following me, but it wouldn't have surprised me if there were more that I missed. I had no intentions of underestimating the resources of the people who were trying to figure out who I was and what I was doing in Gotham.
I grinned to myself. I was lucky that three years had done so much to my face. I'd lost the smooth baby face that had haunted my early teens and I'd finally gotten taller. I imagined that I'd be as tall as Dick now, though probably an inch or two shorter than Bruce. And, although I hate to brag, I'd finally received the reward of all of my hard work in a very filled out and muscular body. I was also utilizing a few makeup and cosmetic changes just to throw them off.
Decision time. Did I go in tonight or wait? The cave, the manor or Dick's? Maybe I should see my Dad first. I considered the fact that I might not want to know the answers to my questions from either Dad or Bruce. Gritting my teeth slightly, I made the call. Tonight, the cave, and to heck with the answers, as long as I got them.
I went into my room and changed into my night outfit, making sure that the camera could see. That would catch her attention. Now she knew I was up to something, since she likely had Cass's report of me from last night. When I went back out to my bike, it had a very cleverly hidden tracer. Well, clever unless you knew where she told her people to hide them, which I did. I disabled it with a flick of the wrist and tossed into my coat pocket. My helmet hid my mask, and with the leather jacket covering the weapons strapped to my back, I was as incognito as I was going to get. Unless things had changed a whole lot, the cave would be empty at this time of night, as both Bruce and Cass would be on patrol. Alfred would be upstairs preparing food for the weary, and Dick should be in Bludhaven. I took to the streets, heading in the general direction of Wayne Manor.
I cursed to myself as a black motorcycle slipped through traffic and followed me. I recognized the person following me and stifled a groan. I didn't have any quarrel with Black Canary, and she was good enough that I was either going to have to be very creative to get rid of her or actually hurt her. The last was not an option, so I began to run ideas through my head.
I weaved my way through downtown traffic, hoping to lose her in the shuffle. I had an advantage in that my cycle didn't have a tracer anymore, and I knew that if I could just lose her for a minute, she'd never find me again. Dinah also assumed that I didn't know my way around town, since I'd only got here yesterday, and my ID showed that I'd spent my whole life overseas. So, I could use the fact that Bruce had drilled every side street and alley into my head to my advantage.
I reached deep into my memory, and knew that Third connected with Fourth through a small alley just south of here. I u-turned at the next possible place and headed for that alley. If I could get there just a couple of seconds before she did, I might be able to lose her there. I pushed the bike to the limit, screaming down Third at 95 miles per hour. Canary seem surprised by my sudden increase in speed, and it took her a moment to react. Then she sped up as well, following me. Her bike was more powerful than mine, she'd catch up in a minute or so, but it wouldn't matter, since if this worked, she'd never get the chance.
My next maneuver required my total concentration, so I blocked all other thoughts from my head. I skidded into the alley at a speed that could have killed me if the bike tipped. Luckily it didn't, and I cut speed quickly. The fire escape was right where it used to be, and I hopped off the bike as it was still moving and guided it up to the first landing. I cut the motor totally and moved it into the shadows. Realizing that I had a couple of extra seconds, I turned the bike around so that it faced the stairs and fumbled in my weapons belt for some kind of weapon. I located one of my more generic ninja throwing stars and held it at the ready.
Dinah screeched into the alley, and I held my breath. She continued on to the end of the alley and slowed, trying to figure out which way I'd went. She cursed as she realized that I was nowhere in sight. She cocked her head and muttered something, obviously contacting Oracle with the news.
She turned the bike and headed backed back to where we'd entered the alley. Suddenly, she stopped. She stopped her bike and got off, kneeling in the dust and grime of the alley. Hmm, I'd wondered if she'd catch on that my tracks didn't lead out of the alley. She took another step away from her bike and that was my cue to leave. I flicked the throwing star at her gas tank and was rewarded by a hole and slowly leaking gas. Canary whirled and looked up to where I was hiding in the shadows.
Time to get outta here. I gunned the motor on my bike and headed down the steps at a dangerous speed. Canary dove out of my way as I peeled out of the alley. I grinned to myself. With a punctured gas tank, she couldn't follow me. I cruised around town for another ten minutes carefully watching for anybody else on my tail. Finally convinced that I'd lost all pursuit, I headed out of town, in the direction of Wayne Manor.
Chapter 2: Canary Sighting
When I woke up in the morning, I once again resisted the urge to talk to Babs and quickly got dressed for the day. I planned to buy a motorcycle today, and that little job took most of the day. I knew that I probably wouldn't need it for long, one way or another, but I needed it to be both affordable and able to actually work beyond the car lot. I picked up one of the people following me, but it wouldn't have surprised me if there were more that I missed. I had no intentions of underestimating the resources of the people who were trying to figure out who I was and what I was doing in Gotham.
I grinned to myself. I was lucky that three years had done so much to my face. I'd lost the smooth baby face that had haunted my early teens and I'd finally gotten taller. I imagined that I'd be as tall as Dick now, though probably an inch or two shorter than Bruce. And, although I hate to brag, I'd finally received the reward of all of my hard work in a very filled out and muscular body. I was also utilizing a few makeup and cosmetic changes just to throw them off.
Decision time. Did I go in tonight or wait? The cave, the manor or Dick's? Maybe I should see my Dad first. I considered the fact that I might not want to know the answers to my questions from either Dad or Bruce. Gritting my teeth slightly, I made the call. Tonight, the cave, and to heck with the answers, as long as I got them.
I went into my room and changed into my night outfit, making sure that the camera could see. That would catch her attention. Now she knew I was up to something, since she likely had Cass's report of me from last night. When I went back out to my bike, it had a very cleverly hidden tracer. Well, clever unless you knew where she told her people to hide them, which I did. I disabled it with a flick of the wrist and tossed into my coat pocket. My helmet hid my mask, and with the leather jacket covering the weapons strapped to my back, I was as incognito as I was going to get. Unless things had changed a whole lot, the cave would be empty at this time of night, as both Bruce and Cass would be on patrol. Alfred would be upstairs preparing food for the weary, and Dick should be in Bludhaven. I took to the streets, heading in the general direction of Wayne Manor.
I cursed to myself as a black motorcycle slipped through traffic and followed me. I recognized the person following me and stifled a groan. I didn't have any quarrel with Black Canary, and she was good enough that I was either going to have to be very creative to get rid of her or actually hurt her. The last was not an option, so I began to run ideas through my head.
I weaved my way through downtown traffic, hoping to lose her in the shuffle. I had an advantage in that my cycle didn't have a tracer anymore, and I knew that if I could just lose her for a minute, she'd never find me again. Dinah also assumed that I didn't know my way around town, since I'd only got here yesterday, and my ID showed that I'd spent my whole life overseas. So, I could use the fact that Bruce had drilled every side street and alley into my head to my advantage.
I reached deep into my memory, and knew that Third connected with Fourth through a small alley just south of here. I u-turned at the next possible place and headed for that alley. If I could get there just a couple of seconds before she did, I might be able to lose her there. I pushed the bike to the limit, screaming down Third at 95 miles per hour. Canary seem surprised by my sudden increase in speed, and it took her a moment to react. Then she sped up as well, following me. Her bike was more powerful than mine, she'd catch up in a minute or so, but it wouldn't matter, since if this worked, she'd never get the chance.
My next maneuver required my total concentration, so I blocked all other thoughts from my head. I skidded into the alley at a speed that could have killed me if the bike tipped. Luckily it didn't, and I cut speed quickly. The fire escape was right where it used to be, and I hopped off the bike as it was still moving and guided it up to the first landing. I cut the motor totally and moved it into the shadows. Realizing that I had a couple of extra seconds, I turned the bike around so that it faced the stairs and fumbled in my weapons belt for some kind of weapon. I located one of my more generic ninja throwing stars and held it at the ready.
Dinah screeched into the alley, and I held my breath. She continued on to the end of the alley and slowed, trying to figure out which way I'd went. She cursed as she realized that I was nowhere in sight. She cocked her head and muttered something, obviously contacting Oracle with the news.
She turned the bike and headed backed back to where we'd entered the alley. Suddenly, she stopped. She stopped her bike and got off, kneeling in the dust and grime of the alley. Hmm, I'd wondered if she'd catch on that my tracks didn't lead out of the alley. She took another step away from her bike and that was my cue to leave. I flicked the throwing star at her gas tank and was rewarded by a hole and slowly leaking gas. Canary whirled and looked up to where I was hiding in the shadows.
Time to get outta here. I gunned the motor on my bike and headed down the steps at a dangerous speed. Canary dove out of my way as I peeled out of the alley. I grinned to myself. With a punctured gas tank, she couldn't follow me. I cruised around town for another ten minutes carefully watching for anybody else on my tail. Finally convinced that I'd lost all pursuit, I headed out of town, in the direction of Wayne Manor.