"Ouch," said Shayera.  "My head…" That was an understatement.  Her head was ringing like a beehive.  Her eyesight was blurry.  Hawkgirl tried to get up, but she felt like there were weights on her wings.  Instead, she stood still, letting her eyes slowly adjust to the light.

Oswald Cobblepot, known in Gotham as the Penguin, was in front of her.  Year ago, rejected by society, the Penguin turned to crime and created a fortune.  He and Batman had fought—umbrellas and birds against batarangs—over the years, and the Penguin shifted to lurking in the Gotham underworld to managing her aristocrats.  Of all of Batman's rouges, the Penguin was the only one in full control of his mind.  He was not motivated by humor, like the Joker, nor my intellect, like the Riddler.  Unlike Poison Ivy or Catwoman, Oswald cared little for flora or fauna—except his birds.  He was driver purely by greed.  Hawkgirl knew none of this.

"Funny, I expected someone a little taller."

Shayera lunged forward—she wanted to claw at his face.  But she was chained to the wall.  "Easy there, little canary.  We bandaged up that wing of yours, but you shouldn't get too excited."

"I'm not the type of bird you cage."  Hawkgirl struggled against the chains.  "Now where's Batgirl?"  The Penguin motioned to Hawkgirl's left.  Batgirl was unconscious, but at least she appeared unharmed.  Shayera looked around.  She could hear the sound of people talking in low voices, and swing music being played.  She must be in a part of the Penguin's Iceberg Lounge.

The Penguin began pacing in front of Shayera.  "So you're the not-so-famous Hawkgirl, the heroine of Midway, correct?"

Hawkgirl snarled.  "'Not-so-famous'?  You mind explaining that to me?"

"Of course," the stout man laughed.  "As you can tell, I am an avian lover myself.  And lo and behold, off in Midway—the smallest big city of them all—some winged alien is running around beating up criminals.  But you're not too well known outside your adopted hometown.  Naturally, you had to come to Gotham.  And I knew how to bring you here."

Hawkgirl rolled her eyes.  "Yeah.  Dope up some winged rats and I'll track them like hounds."  She grew more serious.  "We know about the narcotics you're using.  As soon as Batgirl or I get out—and we will get out, little bird—you are busted."

The Penguin let out a pigeon-like chuckle.  "Too bad the warehouse has already been emptied, and all your evidence gone."  Hawkgirl frowned.  "This was just a side operation anyways.  Although it paid well for something I only did half-heartedly."

Under her mask, Shayera lifted an eyebrow.  "Well, if we can't bust you, we can send one of your underlings to jail."

The Penguin was surprised.  "That's not at all what I would expect a superhero to say."

Hawkgirl grinned.  "I'm not your typical superhero.  I know how to bargain."

                A chuckle came from the back of the Penguin's throat.  "The Bat should take a page out of your book.  What did you have in mind, bird?"

                "Well," said Hawkgirl, "you could start by unchaining me…"

                One of the Penguin's men came up and released Hawkgirl from her bonds.  Too bad she didn't have her mace.  All the same, if push came to shove, she could still fight with her hands and feet.  "Some of the most violent men in Gotham had a meeting in your facility here.  Is there a connection?"

                "I was auctioning the narcotics to the highest bidder.  The final bid was tonight."  Which meant Batman, Nightwing, and Robin had discovered whom the Penguin was selling the drug to.  "The winner was Nicholas Alberto.  One of the leading mafia men in Gotham.  All in all, I made a fourteen million dollar profit.  Not too bad."

                Hawkgirl went to free Batgirl, who was starting to recover.  The petite redhead wobbled on her own feet for a moment, than stood up weakly. Shayera turned back towards the Penguin.  "Well, what does he want it for?"

                The Penguin chuckled.  "How do I know?  I just make the product; I have no clue why he wants it.  I suspect he could use it to force some of the other families to cooperate…"

                "Wait—this drug works on humans too?"

                The Penguin realized his mistake.  "I am sorry, Miss Hawkgirl, but I think you've learned more than you need to.  Bargain's over.  Boys, get rid of the two.  And try not to make too much noise, or you'll disturb the guest."

                Hawkgirl and Batgirl found themselves cornered by the Penguin's men.  Shayera looked at Batgirl.  "Hey, Red, we've got all the information we need.  How about we just try to escape?"

                "Sounds like a good move!" said Batgirl as she charged towards the men.  One swift kick—even Hawkgirl was impressed by the girl's graces—brought one man down.  Hawkgirl spotted her mace and jumped over the other two men to grab it.  She spotted a door on the other side of the room.  Batgirl ran through the opening she created and dashed after Shayera.  Hawkgirl broke the door open with her mace, and the two girls ran into the room, locking the two goons on the other side.

                "Well, they won't be able to follow us!" said Batgirl.

                Hawkgirl turned around.  "Yes, but how do we get out of this?"

                It was the Penguin's aviary.  Dozens of birds were in cages, eating or sleeping or playing with their partners.  Most were just being loud.  "What a racket," said Batgirl.

                "What a distraction!  Batgirl, can you get your motorcycle to meet us at the front of the lounge?"

                "Yeah—but what are we doing?"

                Hawkgirl was opening the doors to all the cages.  "There's no point in staying here to gather any more evidence.  My wing's busted as it is anyways.  The Penguin has probably already sent the narcotics to Alberto.  We've done all we can tonight.  What's important now is that we find out what Alberto wants with that drug."

                "So why release the birds?"

                Hawkgirl grinned.  "No reason why we can't make a little chaos before we leave."  All the birds were still in their cages, as if waiting for orders.  Hawkgirl walked over to one of the other doors.  "You know the quickest way out of here?"

                Batgirl nodded.  "But it's through the lobby.  Gotham's wealthiest will be there."

                "Even better.  Now!"

                What a sight appeared before Gotham's aristocrats!  Batgirl appeared from a doorway near the kitchen, followed by the Winged Avenger.  And behind them both, exotic birds were making a mad flight to any opening to the outside.  People screamed as Amazon parrots landed on their tables and ducks flew into the fountain in the center of the lounge.  Batgirl darted between the tables while Hawkgirl, trying to be as destructive as possible, jumped from table to table, upsetting the plates and silverware.  Hawkgirl spotted the Penguin, looking very annoyed.  She gave a wink and wave.  "We'll have to do this again."

                Oswald Cobblepot could only shout and wave his umbrella as the two girl made their way to safety.

                Once outside, the two found the Bat-cycle, lights and engine on, waiting at the end of the steps.  "Jump on!"

                The two didn't speak for several minutes.  Then Batgirl looked back at Hawkgirl and grinned.  "A couple of birds of prey, yeah?"