Okay darlin' in some twisted world I might actually own Batman Beyond. But we don't live in that twisted world were things are more interesting. So this is how it goes I DO NOT OWN Batman Beyond. That's right it ain't mine. I'm using them without permission. (Shh! Don't tell anyone!) But Shadow, Harley Jest and Nightshade are mine, mine, MINE!!! All mine baby! Soooooo DC Comics (division of Time-Warner Communications) I don't mess with you. You don't mess with me. Kay?

The Light

It was a warm rainy night as The Shadow stood above the frightened Mikhail Duncan. Shadow smirked as she grabbed the hilt of her snake sword making it stiff as she removed it from her side. She had just moments before just broke into Sunset Arms apartments and attacked one Mr. Duncan and his little family when Batman had interrupted by flying in through the window. But at least she got her master's bidding done that's all that matters.

Shadow re-sheath her sword as she began to run to the opposite room. Batman flew across the apartment catching the fleeing Shadow in the back. Shadow tumbled forward rolling to get back onto her feet. She grabbed Mrs. Duncan who was about to make a run to the phone to call the police.

She looked towards Batman as she held the woman tightly by her red hair. She removed a black dagger from behind her and pressed it to the woman's neck. Her point was made clear with the sudden scream from Mrs. Duncan as the dagger pressed sharply into her skin.

Shadow used Mrs. Duncan as a safeguard as she slowly began to step towards the front door of the apartment. Thinking otherwise she shoved Mrs. Duncan away and made a run down the hall towards the old fashioned fire escape. Batman caught the falling Mrs. Duncan before he ran after Shadow.

He stuck his upper body out of the window in time to catch a gray boot in the chin. Batman quickly regained himself, he jumped onto the metal rail of the fire escape and began chasing Shadow up the many stairs until they were on the rooftop.

When he reached the top all he saw was a swirl of gray before Shadow merged with the dark night. Batman carefully made his way towards the dark, heat vision was useless when it came to this woman. When she didn't want to be seen she wasn't seen, simple as that.

A shrill sound of a sharp object on steel alerted Batman to the direction in that Shadow was in. As soon as he began to approach the sound it stopped.

I never thought you were an assassin. Batman said aloud to the nothingness. Shadow slipped smoothly out of the dark, she smirked and shook her head from one side to another.

So you're not an assassin. Then what are you? Batman asked.

Whatever my master wants me to be. She said removing her sword. She advanced slicing her sharp blade through the air missing the dodging Batman. She over extended on one swing allowing Batman the change to ram his shoulder into her midsection.

Shadow fell backwards onto the rooftop in a pained heap. Quickly she recovered, flipping backwards she got back onto her feet with her trusty sword still in hand.

Batman looked at the dangerous sword if he didn't disarm her soon she could literally disarm him. As Shadow advanced towards him he jumped into the air delivering a cyclone kick that knocked the dark snake sword out of her hands. It flew through the air landing in the rooftop blade first.

Shadow spun to run for her fallen weapon just to be tripped as Batman swept his leg beneath her. As she fell forwards she brought her hands beneath her performing a handstand. With her gray legs in the air she wrapped them around Batman's neck flipping him forwards as she came down.

Batman rolled back onto his feet. Nice move. He commented.

Shadow visibly smiled and lowered her head in a sign of thanks then began fighting again. The two darkly dressed combatants exchanged a barrage of blows.

Batman had just released a combinations of kicks and punches onto the now tender body and face of Shadow. Shadow returned the blows hit for hit in her own style and form. In the end both of them huffed with exhaustion, they could barely move their bodies above the speed of a slow step. Shadow, breathing heavily, reached out grabbing Batman by his pointy ears and slammed his face into her uprising knee.

Batman tumbled backwards a excruciating pain flying through his head causing a brief moments of double images. Shadow staggered towards him until she stood looking down on him. Batman kicked out his leg knocking Shadow roughly onto her back almost folding over in the fall.

A moment passed as they both continued to lay on their backs in the rain. Shadow breathed.

Batman tried to move his arm to see he lacked the strength. Batman said.

After a few moments passed they both stood and readied themselves to fight again. Okay time's up. Batman said.

Shadow nodded in agreement seconds before she flipped backwards twice then bent down to retrieve her abandoned snake sword. She quickly replaced it on its rest at her hip and removed the long metal chain from around her waist. She circled it above her head twice like a deadly whip before she brought in down on the momentarily dazed Batman.

Batman jumped back allowing the chain to fall into a shallow puddle of water. She flicked her wrist once bringing the chain up then down again. Batman held out his arm in time to make the chain wrap around it harmlessly.

Shadow quickly gave the chain a hard jerk then a flick making the chain hoop around Batman's neck twice. Shadow smirked as she wrapped her end of the chain around one of the many protruding pipes of the rooftop. You have such a lovely deep voice, Batman. I bet it sounds sexy when you're in pain! Shadow said smugly pulling on the chain jerking Batman down onto the roof.

Ah! Aah! He cried out as the chain stretched his neck and closed down on his throat at the same time.

Hey you! A voice rang out. Both Batman and Shadow turned their heads in the direction of the disruption. Nightshade stood on top of the metal stairwell shake. Let him go! He demanded.

Shadow stared in the direction of the newcomer pausing in her actions for a breif moment. Shadow then humph as she placed her heel into the back of Batman's neck and pulled one hard time on the chain making him cry out as a warning to the green intruder.

Nightshade jumped down onto the roof. I said let him go, I need him alive. Nightshade said placing his thumb to his chest.

The closer Nightshade got the harder Shadow forced her heel into Batman's neck. A brilliant flash of lightning streaked through the sky. Shadow winced turning her face away from the sight distracting Shadow long enough for Nightshade to kick her in the chest propelling her off the roof.

How did you get here? Batman asked removing the chain from around his neck.

Nightshade looked at the dark knight. I told you I would be watching out for you. He said moving to go over the edge of the building.

The building being only five stories high the fall was not long but it still had the high chances of being fatal. This Batman and Nightshade observed as they looked down at the still body of Shadow laying in the wet streets. She was still breathing, so she was still alive and most likely in some extreme pain.

Batman carefully rolled her onto her back in the circle of light emitted by the streetlights above them. He removed her hood then felt through her bodysuit to feel her pulse. She's alive just unconscious. I'm not shocked though, someone who can fight me like that has to have above average strength.

Nightshade scoffed. Harley's and I've done worse to you before.

Batman was about to retort when Shadow began to moan, bringing herself back into consciousness. Ah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Shadow released an inhuman cry. She covered her nonexistent eyes with her gray hands as she struggled to get out of the radiance of the bright streetlamp. She screamed again causing the windows of three parked cars nearby to shatter. Batman and Nightshade placed their hands over their ears and ducked as the unearthly scream caused the bulb in the streetlight above them to burst showering them with bright sparks.

She scuttled backwards into the dark shadow of a nearby car breathing heavily. She hates the light. Batman said looking up at the damaged streetlight Shadow had shrunk away from.

Nightshade continued to stare at the frightened figure shaking in the shadows. The light destroys shadows. He said.

Shadow sneered at the two men towering above her, she reached into her now torn cape. She removed her hand holding three glass spheres between each finger. She threw the spheres onto the ground creating a thick gray cloud.

Batman and Nightshade fought in vain to wave away the cloud, when it had thinned enough for them to see Shadow was gone.

***

Shadow breathed heavily as she took off her cape and mask, the rest of her outfit she hid beneath everyday clothing. Without her guise she was a totally different person. She did not care for the silence, she carved the noise of the city to drown out her thoughts, the thoughts that were useless unless placed into her mind by her master. Without her mask she was allowed to express her emotions strongly over her face. Her eyes flirted over the dark rims of her shades towards the handsome young males who walked by her. Her hips swayed as she sauntered down the street, the heels of her dark boots clicking as she walked confidently through the rain.

She laughed out loud in now pouring rain. If Batman or Nightshade was to walk by they would not know whom the silent Shadow was.

***

Batman puzzled over the fact that the light somehow pained Shadow to the extreme. During the first night I faced her she said something about how she prefers the dark to the light. She's been giving me clues about her each time we meet. Batman said.

You mean she wants you to find out who she is? Nightshade asked confused.

No, more like she's teasing me because I don't know. All I do know is that someone's commanding her. Batman said.

Nightshade examined his cut. Uh? Oh you mean that master' person she was speaking of?

No directly, like over a radio or something. Didn't you see the small pause she took?

You mean when she was temporarily distracted? Yeah enough time to be listening to someone. Nightshade frowned as he looked up into the raining sky.

So she's just the courier. Batman said. He looked towards Nightshade. Thanks for helping me. He said rather reluctantly.

The faster you're done with this dark chick the faster you can help me. The two men locked eyes for a brief moment before Batman activated his rocket boosters and flew back onto the top of the building. Hey where are you going? Nightshade shouted up to him.

Batman looked about the rooftoop for what it was that Shadow was doing in the dark moments before their fight. He recalled the sound of sharp metal on metal. What was around that was metal? Batman wondered as he looked around. His eyes fell on the metal hut leading into the building.

He made it over to the shabby steel hut to see the words she had left behind. Batman ran his fingers over the jagged lettering. What hints was she giving him this time. What clue? Was she trying to tell him who her master was? He reread the statement etched in steel.

Even the most brilliant lights create shadows.

***

The shadowed man walked into his office, all was dark except for the lovely glow of a tropical fish tank. A soft sound of labored breath could be heard coming from the corner. He asked looking into the corner near the tank.

Shadow, redressed in her mask and cape, sat on the floor curled into a tiny gray ball shivering. Shadow what happened? He asked.

Mission completed Master. She said as she gripped her head. Pain! So much pain! The light, that awful light. She cried.

The man smiled inwardly. Throughout all her pain her first priority is to please me.' He thought to himself as he kneeled down beside his Shadow. When did you see light? the master asked removing her hood.

Shadow shivered. After you told me to deal with Nightshade, Batman and Nightshade pushed me off the building. When I came to I saw light. She said.

The master's hand ran comfortingly through Shadow's ash gray hair. Did they see who you are? He asked.

No, master. I did well did I not? I will not be punished again will I? Shadow asked fear creeping into her voice.

The master smiled as he stood bringing Shadow with him. No, you pleased me very much. Go and get ready to rest I will bring stop the pain for you shortly. Shadow only nodded then left removing her mask as her went.

He watched as she left. Batman and Nightshade. I'm going to have to teach them not to mess with me and my Shadow.' He thought to himself. And what better way then to get their good friend Harley Jest?'

End of Chapter 5