Before they left to the museum that night, the four gathered at Jiaoshu's in one of the teaching rooms for a quick run over what was to be done. Feng offered to carry some of the explosive devices for Dee. When she was flatly turned down and Cheng, being the oldest of the group told her that everyone was to stick with the original orders, she looked irritated. Why she was getting stuck carrying stupid, heavy tools, when someone bigger than her got to carry a lighter pack was just unfair.
{Everything is secure here,} Dee said, standing and tugging her backpack harness snug.
The group filed into the van and sat in the back on the floorboards. Receiving an all clear from Cheng, the driver pulled out of the garage and drove toward the museum. Silence reigned throughout the whole ride. As they neared, the four pulled their hoods on, leaving only their eyes exposed in the mass of black they wore. Dee's sixth sense was driving her crazy tonight. Something did not feel right, yet she couldn't place her finger exactly on what. Without a reason to speak up, she remained silent.
{We will gain access through the rooftop vents. You two are small enough to get through them without a problem. Once you're ready, give the rope we'll let you down with a tug. We'll drop the third rope then for you to attach the bags to. Be ready to move quickly once those start up.}
Feng and Dee gave thumbs up and they all left the van. They took to the roof of the building next to the museum. Swinging across on a grappled rope, the four noiselessly found the correct vent. While the men opened the vent and disarmed the security system, Dee and Feng prepared the ropes they were to go down on. Attaching the grappling hooks securely to the side, the ropes were dropped down.
Manchu and Cheng flashed "good luck" signs to the two and watched as they lowered themselves into the dark vent. Allowing her eyes to adjust to the dimness, Dee eased her way down to the grate that covered the outlet. Carefully, she hooked a small rope onto it and undid the latch, letting the grate swing slowly open. The ropes dropped the rest of the way to the ground and the girls followed suit.
The room was large and set up with half sized mock ups of potential displays. It was easy to spot the targeted safe, pushed against a wall near some display cases. Quickly the two made it over to the safe, Dee slipping her backpack off as she ran. With practiced skill, she began attaching the tiny charges to the key points.
{How's it going?} Cheng asked over the headset.
{Placing the charges now. I'll let you know when they're about to go,} Dee said, cutting off communication to work.
She was just attaching the fuse that would connect each charge to one another when the grating sound of glass on glass made her turn swiftly to her right. A massive glass display case was coming down on her. Grabbing her bag, she shifted and used her feline strength to propel herself out of the way as it came crashing down.
{What was that?} Manchu asked sounding worried.
Dee said nothing as she lay on her back, panting as the dust cleared and the form of Feng appeared, crunching over the broken glass. The girl's eyes were narrowed, showing nothing but pure hatred as she caught sight of Dee. Before Dee could answer, Feng began to charge her. Rolling onto her stomach, Dee did what she could, shifting into a tiger and rushing across the room to a door that led out into the museum. As she reached it, she shifted back.
{Abort! Abort! Get out of here now!} she yelled into the headset. Seeing Feng nearing her, she burst through the door, dragging her backpack onto her shoulders.
{Stop running and fight me!} demanded Feng.
From the safety of a pillar, Dee called out, {Why should I fight you, Feng? I fought you once and defeated you, only because we had to fight. I have no grudge against you that is worth a fight.}
{But I have grudges against you, and I want them settled now.}
Stepping out from her hiding place, Dee faced Feng. {Just what are your issues?}
Feng scoffed. {You! You are the issue! Everything about you is a mockery of the Triad! You do not belong her, white girl! Ever since we were children, you always thought you were better than me. With every chance you humiliated me! You shoved each achievement of yours in my face! Flaunting that you could speak Chinese, fight, even cook better than me! You made everyone like you better than me! I am your superior and you will relent to me! Never should you have been allowed to join this Triad!}
{No one likes me better than anyone else! They tolerate me because I give them proper respect and what trust they deserve! I was invited by Jiaoshu to live and train at his house! The Elders allowed me in. I'm not even a full member! Shouldn't that please you? You are a full member. You have privileges that I don't and won't ever have! Be happy about that!}
{You share Manchu with that idiot girl he picked up. She is not good enough for him! She does not belong to the Triad! Manchu should be mine! He should not talk to the likes of you, you big-breasted slut!}
Dee's eyes narrowed at that. Before she could say a word, Feng charged her, pulling out her tonfa. In response, Dee pulled out the collapsible bo staff and swung the stick to full length. Feng was fighting with anger and that was the only benefit Dee had over her. Feng was angry and this time, Dee felt, Feng would not give up until Dee was either badly injured, or dead.
Swinging out her staff, Dee caught Feng's left shoulder, knocking her off balance. Rolling out of her fall, Feng came up and barreled into Dee, shoving her against a wall. With a powerful swing, she hit Dee in the stomach with the length of her tonfa. Managing a half shift, Dee slashed the upper sleeves of Feng's shirt. She was about to attack her further when she caught sight of a tattoo. Her eyes widened and with a shove, she pushed Feng back, striking a kick to the girl's face with a clawed foot.
{You're a Scarlet Monkey!} The shock of the discovery made Dee tremble. A Scarlet Monkey had had access to information in the Jade Tiger Triad. Dee knew what she had to get away from Feng as quickly as possible and warn Jiaoshu and the others.
Chuckling, Feng stood and pulled her hood back, wiping at the blood on her lip. {You Tigers are all stupid. Only the Monkeys realized the greatness of my talents. When they asked me to work for them in secret, I agreed.}
{How could you? How could you betray your own Triad in favor of another? You have no honor!} spat Dee.
Instead of answering, Feng tossed a throwing star. The star sliced Dee's upper thigh, making her wince in pain. Still, she was ready when the girl came at her again. The clack of their weapons meeting as Dee blocked strike after strike, filled the museum hall. But there was another sound soft at first, but getting louder as she allowed Feng to push her toward the noise. It was the noise of the charity ball!
{You're not even fighting! Fight me!}
There was finally an opening as Dee could see Feng's blows weakening. {Fight you? Fine!} With powerful blows, she brought the ends of her staff down on the girl's poorly protected hands, arms, and legs. Feng managed a strike to Dee's leg, catching her where the throwing star had. Dee snarled, but pressed on. Everything that Feng had accused her of had not been true. Dee had been treated like any other student, save when she was not training and Jiaoshu and Li Mei treated her as a daughter.
The girl cowered and backed off some. Dee kept one ear on the noise of the party, which had suddenly gone quiet. A buzz started back up, but the music that had been playing did not. Either way, she knew that her best chance at getting out of the museum was through that crowd of people. With a final crack of her staff against Feng's leg, Dee took off. She ran only fast enough to let the murderous girl see which direction she went.
Digging in her backpack, Dee came up with one of the small explosives she carried. It was a chunk of plastic explosive with silicon backing to help it stick to whatever surface she needed it to. Right now, she needed the thing to stick to this damn wall! The panting and footfalls of Feng were fast approaching. Lighting the fuse, she slapped the device against the wall and ran as fast as she could around the next corner.
{Stop running!} Feng shouted.
Poking her head around the corner, Dee was just in time to see Feng come across the trap as it blew. When the girl didn't come through the plaster dust and smoke, Dee turned and ran toward the party. She stopped on the first floor mezzanine and looked at the crowd below. Everyone was quiet and looking around for the source of the explosion they had just heard.
"Alright! Enough wasting time! My associates are coming around with bags. Place any and all valuables inside quickly! And remember, we appreciate your kindness in donating for this charity event!" cackled a voice.
Scanning the crowd, Dee saw the source and her breath caught in her throat. The Riddler was robbing the charity ball! She watched as he too went around and forced the patrons to place wallets and jewelry into a bag, grinning and giving each person a gracious nod as they did so. Watching him, she almost forgot the whole fight she had just been in, as well as the sting from her bleeding thigh. A sudden shower of glass on the other side of the room, along with a gliding figure in black pulled her attention away.
The figure, which she first thought might be Feng returned, caused her to stiffen and duck behind the railing. However, a black, scalloped cape flared out behind the man as he sailed over the heads of the patrons, dropping himself directly on top of the Riddler. The action had unfolded in slow motion to her eyes, instead of the fast rate that things were happening. Pulling the costumed criminal to his feet, Batman knocked the gun from the man's hand and gave him a savage back handed punch.
Within seconds, the Riddler's accomplices were swarming around Batman and being knocked back as they tried to free their boss. Dee could tell the man was dazed and would probably pass out the way he was being shaken and tossed back and forth.
The same chill that had run through her body when she made her first kill ran through it now as she leapt over the railing, falling into the crowd below. In her sight, all she could see was the Riddler and Batman. Shoving through the patrons who now ran like startled cattle, Dee made it to the fight. Without hesitation she began attacking Batman with fierce blows of her bo staff, kicking and punching when she could.
Dismayed at the sudden attack, the Dark Knight backed off, releasing his hold on the Riddler. Dee gave Batman a solid thwack over the head with the staff, forcing him to retreat further back. A swarm of henchmen tackled the man, pulling him to the ground. Dee watched as the boiling mass of fists writhed on the floor. A groan turned her back to the Riddler.
Sitting on the floor, he held a hand to his head. Without speaking, she grabbed his hand and tugged him to his feet, slinging his arm over her shoulder. At his feet was a bag of money and valuables. She quickly grabbed it up and headed in the direction he pointed. The hall was almost cleared of panicking attendees.
The door they burst out of came out into the back alley. Two men immediately hurried over and helped the Riddler to a nearby car. Her mind only on the Riddler, Dee followed. Neither man said anything when the black clad figure got in the backseat and began inspecting the Riddler's injuries. The driver started the car and pulled off into the night.