Batman Return of the Dark Nights

Written by: Panthera

Disclaimer: The characters within this story belong to DC Comics and Warner Brothers I have just borrowed them for a while. No harm is meant I will return them unharmed when I'm finished the only character contained within that is not DC is that of Zanah she is an original character created by me and my friend.  Now, on with the story.

Chapter Eight

Commissioner Gordon sat at his desk working on trying to figure out who stole the Jade Cat when he felt the wind tear through his office. He looked up from his file.

"Boy am I," he began expecting to see Batman.

"Batman is laying low, so you'll have to settle for me," Catwoman said.

"No, it can't be. You're dead."

"Cat's have nine lives unlike you, so if you want to stay alive act natural," she whispered as she walked up behind him and covered his mouth.

Gordon froze for a moment and figuring she intended to kidnap him he lashed out at her suddenly.

"Down now," she ordered as she pushed him to the floor, bullets sprayed wildly.

"Sorry," he said in apology.

"Get out of here," she roared as she moved preparing to face the attackers. She brought one down. As Gordon escaped out the door two more entered the office through the open window guns blazing. Catwoman moved quickly, but not fast enough. She hissed in rage as she fell to the floor her right arm giving out under her as the bullet penetrated her flesh. She rose from the floor claws bared. If they are going to kill me, I'm going to take a couple of them with me. "You may skin this cat, but the Bat's still alive you haven't cut his wings," she hissed.

"Don't listen to her," said the man she had taken down.

"But what if she's right? Maybe we should take her to see the boss," said a heavy-set man.

"Fine, but I'm not being held accountable. Grab her and lets get out of here."

The men lifted an unconscious Catwoman from the floor and left the way they came dragging her to a van. They then drove off.

Mean While at Wayne Manor…

Zanah sat at the dinner table with Dick and Bruce. She was in the middle of cutting up her steak when she stopped abruptly dropping her knife, a sudden feeling of dread hanging over her.

"Zanah you okay," Dick asked concerned.

She gave no reply just sat silent unaware he was talking to her. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out what was wrong. Danger!  Zanah blinked worried trying to pinpoint what was going on. Not me someone else, she told herself sensing it. But whom?

"Zanah? Earth to Zanah," Dick said trying again now really beginning to worry there was a look of fear in her eyes he didn't understand.

"Huh," she asked snapping back to the moment registering his voice.

"Are you okay?"

"No, something wrong."

"What is it," Bruce asked seeing she was clearly upset.

Zanah was silent for a moment reaching out trying to grasp hold of the source of her sudden fear. Miss Kyle, her mind answered. Apparently her brief contact with the woman had created a bond to her. The woman was now apparently in some kind of serious trouble. "Miss Kyle is in danger," Zanah replied finally, trying to explain how she knew would be a thing she didn't want to do, but Selina had warned of trouble for her new friends. Zanah felt obligated to return the favor.

"Why do you say that," Bruce asked puzzled. His first reaction was fear for her safety but after a moment of thought it changed apathy. This is Catwoman were talking about here. She plays with people like a ball of yarn pulling them along until she loses interest and then tossing them aside when she finds something else of more appeal.

        Zanah sighed. Why couldn't this be easy? "She over heard those men at the dinner and they had to have heard her outburst at the charity ball. They'll be gunning for her," Zanah reasoned avoiding the real reason she new.

"I wouldn't worry about her Zanah. Selina can take care of herself."

Zanah rose from the table with disgust. What an asshole! She sticks her neck out for him and he's not going to do anything to help her. I can't believe him. What does she see in this jerk? "You're a real jerk Wayne," she said reining in her temper before she stormed out of the room.

Dick rose to follow but heard the front door slam and sighed. He looked at his friend with disbelief at his apparent lack of concern before rising from the table as well. He was headed up stairs when he spotted the Bat signal. Dick Sighed and turned for the study.

Several minutes later at the police station…

  Robin made his way to the roof alone and was met by a very concerned Commissioner Gordon.

"Thank goodness you're here. I only wish…"

"Yeah, I know so do I," Robin replied. "So what's the problem?"

"I was attacked this evening. A group of men tried to assassinate me."

"How'd you survive?"

"Believe it or not Catwoman saved me. I wanted to thank her but she vanished. I found blood on the floor and signs of a struggle. I'm afraid they may have taken her."

"Do you have any idea who they were?"

"None."

"I'll see what I can do," Robin said before he vanished.    

Minutes Later in one of Daggett's many hideouts…

The group of thugs dropped Catwoman in an observation room and moved into where a two-way mirror was one of the main features. They then moved back out to the hall and were faced with an irate Roland Daggett. "What is the meaning of this," he roared.

"The cat there says Bat's isn't dead," said a tall dark haired man as he cringed cowering like a dog. Knowing that to get on Daggett's bad side was a mistake that one didn't want to make.

"She messed up our attempt on Gordon," said the heavy-set man.

"She did, did she? Who is she," Asked Daggett.

"We don't know sir," replied another man, he had a black eye and swollen jaw.

Catwoman's eyes shot open and she looked around spotting the two-sided glass window she rose from the floor and walked over to it. She tapped her claws on the glass and seeing it was the only thing in the small chamber said, "What's the matter? Are the silly little birdies afraid to come out of their cage and play? Don't tell me you're afraid of a simple woman."

   "That my boys has got to be Catwoman, and if she's telling the truth that makes her the perfect bait to trap a Bat," said Daggett.

"I thought the Catwoman was dead," said the tall dark haired goon.

"So did I," said Daggett, as she clawed at the glass scratching it. She then proceeded to kick at it. "She's feisty, but I know away to make her helpless as a kitten," Daggett said and he pressed a small black button in front of him.

Catwoman froze as an air system kicked on and the room began to fill with gas. She continued her effort at the glass franticly. It shattered spider webbing as her vision began to blur. Selina fell to her knees her head was spinning and the floor raced up to meet her quickly as the room went black.

"Good, now that she's unconscious take her to the factory, and then leave a message for Batman," said Daggett as he walked down the hall.

The three thugs walked into the room and bound an unconscious Catwoman. They then threw her into the back of the van. Driving her to a near by factory.     

  Across Town at Selina's Loft…

Zanah stared at the warehouse confused. Is this really where she lives? With a sigh she pulled out a set of lock picks and made quick work of the door. Several cats greeted her as she stepped inside and flipped on the light. The main room was covered with various decorations all related to cats. On a stand sat the Jade cat from the museum robbery. Who is this woman, Zanah wondered as she moved about looking around trying to figure out what was going on.

She moved into the bedroom and a careful search turned up a hidden panel in the closet in, which were carefully stored several purple cat costumes. Catwoman, Zanah thought raising an eyebrow in disbelief. Closing the closet up again she moved back to the main room. Daggett must have her by now. If I go I run the risk of being found, but if I don't she could die. Damn what should I do? Zanah paced around the living room angrily a cat chasing at her heels. She froze and looking up took note of a large wall hanging on it was depicted an image of a panther and a wolf at battle. Getting an idea Zanah moved pulled open her bag with her black clothes and set to work.

At Wayne Manor…

        Dick walked out of the study and began to pace not having a clue what to do or where to look. Bruce stepped into the room saw his agitated friend.

"What's wrong?"

"I just got back for talking to Gordon and I don't know what to do?"

"What's happened?"

"He was ambushed tonight. Catwoman saved him now it appears she's been taken."

"Taken," Bruce repeated stunned. Zanah was right.

"Yes. I have no idea where to start looking?"

 Bruce stood silent for a moment contemplating what to do. If he went he blew his chance at retiring, but if he didn't go and Selina really was in trouble like Zanah had suggested then she could get killed. The girl was right he was being a jerk. The bat signal lit up the night sky again and rather than ignore it Bruce joined Dick in heading for the Bat cave.

Several minutes later at he police station…

Robin moved back up to the roof where Gordon stood waiting a moment later Batman joined him. A look of relief washed over the commissioner's face.

"We received this a moment ago," Gordon said in explanation as he handed over a piece of paper addressed to the Dark Knight.

Batman turned his attention to the paper. "We have your pet. You want her back you'll find her at the old Happy Cat Cat-food factory."

"Let's go," Batman ordered and within a moment he had vanished back into the shadows like a ghost. Robin was close behind him.