Ok the deal is I don't own these characters they are owned by DC comics and
the WB. That is except for the original characters I created and threw in
here I leave names out for now as it may spoil parts of the story.
Birds Of Prey: New Beginnings
Chapter 1: New Arrival
High above the streets of New Gotham, Huntress prowled the city looking for some crime that needed to be stopped. Unfortunately, since the arrest of Harley Quinn, crime was slow - too slow for Huntress.
"Huntress, do you read me? Come in, Huntress."
"I'm here, Oracle. What is it now?'
"Look, I hate to say this, but you've been out there for a few hours now, and there's been virtually nothing happening. And what is happening, the police seem to have a handle on. You should just head back."
Helena rolled her eyes. She knew Barbara was right, but she didn't want to admit it - she hadn't kicked some criminal ass in a few weeks now. "Fine. I'll do one more sweep on my way back to the Clock Tower, and then I'll call it a night."
"Huntress, one more thing. On your way back, swing by No Man's land and get Dinah. She was supposed to be back an hour ago, and she's turned her comm set off."
Helena laughed. "Turned it off again, huh? How many times does this make? And what's she doing there? Didn't you send her out on an assignment?"
"3 times this past week, and yes I sent her out, but by the time she got there the cops already had a handle on the situation. So she asked if she was done could she swing by the No Man's Land to hang out for a while. I didn't seem the harm as long as she was home by curfew. She's starting to remind me of you."
"Don't want that now, do we? Don't worry Oracle, I'll get her home."
Meanwhile, at the bus station, the usual newcomers were entering the city, any one of them looking to get away from their everyday lives. However, one individual was here to try and start his life - for better or for worse. A young man walked off the bus: his name was Jonathan, and he was a meta- human, although he hid that fact from everyone.
He had superhuman strength and an increased sense of smell. He stood just over 6 feet tall, with brown hair, shaved short. He had a piercing above his eyebrow, and one in his chin. He wore a red flannel shirt over a gray hooded sweatshirt, and a thick black leather jacket that was showing quite a bit of wear and tear. He sported also black cargo pants, with a long chain hanging from the left side. His life had not been an easy one; he had no home to speak of, and had never known his parents - the only family he knew were the scientists that tried to turn him into a weapon from the time he was a child. He knew things would be different here in New Gotham, he just didn't know how different.
Huntress leaped down before the entrance to No Man's Land and walked in. Dinah didn't even realize Helena was behind her.
"Well boys, looks like that's five games for me..."
Dinah's face almost went white as she turned around, and standing there with her arms crossed was Helena, not looking happy.
"Helena, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out on patrol?"
Helena just looked at her. "You were supposed to be home an hour ago, you know."
"I know, I just lost track of time. I was having too much fun beating these guys!"
"Look, just get back to the clock tower, or Barbara will have both our heads."
Dinah grabbed her coat. "You coming?"
"I'll catch up with you."
Dinah knew that Helena just didn't want to be around when Barbara gave her the whole speech about responsibility, and being back on time. After all, Helena herself had heard it enough.
The streets of New Gotham were littered with low lives and criminals just waiting for their next target, mainly some of Gotham's upper class citizens. Jonathan walked the streets, looking for a place to stay, or a chance to get some cash. He was starving. He hadn't eaten for a week, having spent all his money getting a ticket to this godforsaken place. He was walking past the theater, when out of the corner of his eye; he spotted a group of men loitering. They looked suspicious. He figured out why pretty quickly: the last movie of the night had let out, and it was picking time for these guys. He decided to stick around, hating the thought of anyone getting hurt by thugs such as these, especially since he knew he could stop them.
The elevator doors in the clock tower opened, and Dinah walked in. Alfred was the first to meet her.
"Good evening miss Dinah. If you're hungry, I've left supper for you in the fridge. Oh, and I believe that miss Barbara wishes to speak with you."
Dinah knew what she was in for. She just gave Alfred a 'thanks but I may not be around to enjoy the meal' look. She walked over to the control center, where Barbara was doing some much-needed maintenance on the security systems.
"Barbara, Alfred said you wanted to speak to me?" she said, innocently as she could.
Barbara, alias Oracle, took off her glasses, and rolled over closer to Dinah, with a look of both disappointment and understanding on her face. "Dinah, I know you want to spend time with your friends, but you need to be more responsible. School is first no matter what, then your duties as a crime fighter. I've probably told you this a thousand times."
Dinah couldn't help but take the opportunity for a wisecrack. "More like ten thousand."
Barbara ignored the sarcastic remark. She knew the young teenager was frustrated. "And I'll say it ten thousand more until you listen! And for the last time, leave your comm set on, please?"
Dinah knew what was coming next. "So I guess this means I'm grounded, right?""
Barbara had considered that option, but decided that she would let it slide this once.
"So, how long you grounded for?" Helena asked Dinah as she walked through the door. She gave Barbara a look, as Dinah replied, "I don't know yet."
"Well, you should be grounded for a month for all the times you've ignored me about your COM in the past week, but-"
"But what?" Dinah interrupted. Barbara gave her an ominous look.
"Let me finish, and you'll find out. I know the events over the past little while have taken their toll on all of us, so I'm going to let it go. This time, you're not grounded."
"I'm not?" Dinah asked, with noticeable enthusiasm.
"No, you're not." said Barbara.
Dinah was so overcome with excitement that her squeal of happiness caused Helena, who was unfortunately standing next to her, to almost lose her left ear's ability to function. She then ran up and hugged her mentor.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise I won't let this happen again." Barbara pried Dinah's arms off of her, canceling the near death grip.
"See that it doesn't. Now, go get something to eat."
Dinah happily walked off to do just that. Helena, rubbing her ear, walked over and sat down on Barbara's desk.
"So, what are we going to do, what with this miraculous slowdown in crime?"
Barbara rolled back in front of the monitor, and looked through the past two months' news archives. "Something big has to be coming. Calm before the storm. but until the storm starts brewing, I suppose we can cut down our crime fighting activities a bit."
Helena got up. "Alright, you're the boss." She then decided to join Dinah and get some food.
"Sure, now you listen to me." Barbara muttered with a grin as she walked away.
The weather in New Gotham was getting worse by the minute. Not only was it cold, but a heavy rain had also started to fall, and sooner or later it was going to turn to hail. The last movie had let out, and with this weather, everyone who had access to a car used it. In front of the theatre, a young girl, poorly dressed for the weather, was the last out. She took out her cell phone in an attempt call her father, or anyone from security. She needed a lift. The phone was dead. Typical.
"Damn piece of shit, always dying when I need it most." the girl mumbled. "Guess I'll have to walk."
As she started on her way, she was followed by some of the other patrons of the theatre's entrance. The men who were hanging around out front went into the alley, taking a less noticeable route.
Even through the cold air Jonathan could smell the young girl's perfume. He too, trailed her from a distance, but for reasons much less vile than her other pursuers.
She knew she was being followed, but she didn't know who or what it was. She decided to try her phone again. Someone up there must have been watching, for this time, it worked.
"Oh, thank God," she said, with a sigh of relief. But before anyone could answer, a hand was wrapped around her mouth and she was pulled into the alleyway. Her phone dropped to the ground with a clatter.
He'd seen enough. He started walking faster.
Five men, counting the one who grabbed her, who now had a knife to her throat, surrounded her. Her eyes were filled with terror and fear, as her captor withdrew his hand so she could speak.
"W-what do want from me? M-money, jewelry? Take it.b-but.please.j-just don't hurt me."
The thug with the knife looked her up and down a few times. She was an attractive young girl, after all, and these were the back alleys of Gotham.
"Well baby, what if I told you we was gonna take whatever we want? If you play nice, maybe we let you go.then again." He moved the knife slowly, the smooth hilt sliding against her skin.
.maybe we don't!" The thugs all started to laugh. She was crying now, and pleading with them still, but her efforts were futile. The one holding her took his knife and had just sliced off the top button of her shirt when a voice came from the opening of the alley.
"Let her go now, before you get hurt!" Jonathan ordered as he walked closer to them.
The one with the knife shoved the girl into the waiting arms of another of his friends, and went to deal with the uninvited guest. "Hey buddy, the FUCK you think you are, crashin' our party?" the thug asked Jonathan, looking straight into his eyes.
"Your worst nightmare."
"Your funeral," he laughed, and lunged forward, the blade aimed to cut the stranger's throat open.
Jonathan waited until the knife was about an inch away from him, then he moved. In the space of a second, he grabbed the thug's arm, and twisted it. There was a sickening pop, and the knife-wielder screamed out in pain. The next thing he knew, he was moving very fast toward some trashcans. The knife hit the ground, the sound of the impact muffled by the noise of falling tin.
Jonathan walked closer. "Let her go, and no one else gets hurt."
There was another sound then, of someone running, as one of the four remaining men fled. Two others rushed him. An elbow to the ribs took care of the first, and a standing clothesline sent the next flying. Both hit the ground unconscious.
He looked at the last thug, and waited for him to make a move. When he did, it was surprising. He threw his knife down, and brought his fists up.
"Come on, motherfucker, let's do this!"
Jonathan took off his jacket and tossed it to the ground. But before he had a chance to do anything else, a left jab landed squarely on his jaw, and then a right hook to the cheek, followed by three jabs to the stomach, chest, and solar plexus. Jonathan spat, crimson gobbets hitting the ground. A fourth came in, but was stopped as he grabbed the man's hand before it connected.
"My turn," he said, smiling.
A right jab, a left uppercut and a right hook in quick succession all landed squarely on the thug's face. He staggered back, cursing. His left eye was swollen shut, a testament to the power Jonathan put behind his punches. The thug was barley conscious, and on the verge of tipping over when Jonathan nailed a standing sidekick to the thug's jaw, sending him flying into the trashcans to join knife-boy.
Jonathan picked up his jacket, and walked over to the young girl, who was now cowering against the wall in fear for her life. She didn't know what was going on, much less if this guy was here to help her or himself.
"Are you alright?" he asked in a concerned tone. She looked up. The stranger had his hand extended to her.
"It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you." he assured her. She took his hand, and stood up.
"Thank you..." she said, trying to fight back tears. She was rubbing her arms, creating friction to keep warm. He put his leather jacket around her. "Here."
She looked at him again, in the eyes this time "Thanks.my name's Jamie.what's yours?"
"Jonathan.where do you live? I'll walk you home." She saw no deceit in this Jonathan's eyes. She agreed to take the escort.
Dead silence filled the air as they walked down the street, and it made Jamie nervous. "So, you live here in New Gotham, or you just visiting?"
He thought about the question for a second. "Well, I guess I live here now. I got nowhere else to go."
"Oh. So, do you have a place, or are you staying in a hotel?" He laughed. "A hotel! Yeah, that would be nice, wouldn't it?"
"What do you mean?" Jamie asked.
"Look, I'm not going to give you any sob stories about my life or anything, but I live wherever I can. Abandoned buildings, dry alleys, whatever I can find."
Jamie's face registered shock. "You mean you're homeless?"
"If you want to put it like that, sure."
Well, he'd probably saved her life, after all.
"Look, maybe my father can get you something. I'm sure he'll help you-"
"I don't want charity, ok?"
"This isn't charity. Call it repaying a debt to you, ok? You helped me out back there, and you didn't even have to. And don't argue with me, because I'm just going to win anyway." She smiled.
"Alright, then." Jonathan said, laughing.
They stopped in front of a large house, one obviously owned by a very wealthy family. "This is it," Jamie said with a sigh of relief. Finally the night was over, and she could put everything behind her. They walked in, and a security officer stopped them.
"Ma'am, are you alright? You're half an hour late, and your father is worried sick."
"I'm fine, thanks to Jonathan, here." She replied, "Where is my father, anyway?"
"He's in his office."
"Is it ok if I go up there?"
"I'm sure it's fine," the officer responded. "Have a good night, ma'am,"
They walked up a spiraling staircase to the third floor, where her father's office was, and she opened the door. Her father was on the phone, obviously with the police, sitting on a plush chair and facing away from the door. He was extremely agitated, as the chair was rocking back and forth. A plume of smoke drifted out from behind it. It smelled expensive, probably imported.
"Now you listen to me! I pay my taxes like everyone else - hell, I pay more than everyone else, and when I ask you to help me find my daughter, you tell me there's simply nothing you can do? Let me speak with the commissioner now, or I'll have your badge on a plate!!"
"Daddy, I'm here! I'm fine! Now, stop yelling at the police!" Jamie said with a laugh.
The chair stopped rocking, and there was a long pause.
"Officer, I sincerely apologize. You must understand that I was just worried about her safety. Good day, now." The phone clicked into a receiver, and the chair turned around. The man inside got up, and began to move toward them.
Walking - no, rather, waddling- towards Jonathan and Jamie on expensive- looking leather slippers was a short, squat, plump middle-aged man. Balding on top, he wore a smoking jacket over a white undershirt, and lined gray pants. A stick of tobacco was held by the cigarette holder clasped between the thin lips underneath a long, curved nose. A monocle was in place over the right beady little eye.
"Jamie, I'm ever so glad to see you're safe-and who is this young man?" her father asked, his head moving up and down sharply as he took Jonathan in, not unlike a parrot's head might.
"This is Jonathan. He helped me out of a situation which I'll explain later."
The man extended one white-gloved hand. "Oswald Cobblepot, and it is a pleasure to meet anyone who is responsible for my sweet little girl's safety." Jonathan shook it.
"I would love to speak with you, my boy. But first, would you mind waiting here, while I speak with my daughter in the next room?"
"I got no where else to be," Jonathan replied.
Jamie took off Jonathan's leather jacket, and gave him a hug, followed by the jacket.
"Thanks! We'll only be a moment."
"No worries," Jonathan replied, smiling as she walked through the door, and closed it behind her. He sat down on a fluffy black couch while Jamie and her father spoke, closed his eyes and enjoyed the time he had to relax.
A few minutes later Oswald Cobblepot returned. "My daughter speaks highly of you, Mr.what is your last name, anyhow?" The cigarette holder bobbed up and down as he spoke.
Jonathan thought about it for a minute. No one had ever asked him that, and he honestly didn't know if he had one. He then remembered the name of the one man who he considered to be a father to him - his former martial arts and boxing teacher.
"O'Connor, Jonathan O'Connor." Oswald nodded, and studied him for a moment.
"Alright then. Mr. O'Connor, my daughter informs me that you have just arrived here in Gotham, have nowhere to stay, and are without money. Is this true?"
He didn't want to talk about it, but he wasn't ashamed of what he was.
"Yes, it's true."
"Well then, that's unfortunate you see, because you my friend are a good man, also one who has some obvious experience in self-defense. You have selflessly saved my daughter tonight, and in doing so, giving me a debt I cannot even begin to repay. I cannot thank you enough, but I can try." Oswald waddled over to his desk, and pulled out some folders. He settled on the one he wanted, opened it up, and began to scribble on a piece of paper with a genuine quill, which he now and then dipped into a nearby inkwell. "Come over to the table, if you please."
Jonathan got up, and walked over to the desk. "First thing in the morning, take this down to New Gotham First National Bank. Ask to speak with the manager, and when you do, give him this. He will set up an account for you, and fifty thousand will be deposited into this account."
Jonathan didn't know what to say. He shook his head. "I can't take that.it's not right."
Oswald looked up at him, and raised an eyebrow. "You can take it, and you will. That's nothing to me compared to her life."
He inhaled deeply, and settled back in his chair, looking at Jonathan again with those beady eyes.
"Do you - or rather, did you go to school, where you came from?"
"I never got all the way through high school. I did complete my pre-final semester though, and I'd like to return and finish up. Why do you ask?"
"I see." Oswald opened up a different folder, and selected another paper, wrote something on it, and handed it to him along with the first paper. "Take this to New Gotham High School tomorrow, after you make your arrangements at the bank. Talk to the principal. I'm sure something can be worked out."
Jonathan stood there, simply astounded at Mr. Cobblepot's generosity as he selected another paper.
"Now then, the next order of business is a place for you to stay, my boy. I happen to own some fine property on the other side of town, a few condominiums." He handed him the quill. "Simply sign this lease." He put out his cigarette in a golden ashtray, and selected another from a nearby case. "Rent free as long as you live in New Gotham. In fact, all of your bills will be prepaid." He lit his cigarette, and fumbled in his pocket for something. When his hand came out, it was with a roll of bills, easily a couple of hundred. "And here.get yourself some clothes, and some food. I imagine you're hungry."
After accepting the money graciously, Jonathan shook Oswald's hand again. "Thank you so much, sir.this means a lot to me. I feel as though I owe you something."
"No, not at all, friend. You owe me nothing. I still owe you more than I can ever possibly repay.but I do need to ask you another favor." He leaned over the table and spoke in a quiet tone.
"Jamie may indeed be a popular girl in school. However.she is young, and naïve. She trusts far too easily. So long as she attends that school, she is a potential target for ruffians. To date, nothing has happened, but.I believe I can trust you, so I ask you; please watch over her, and make sure it stays that way."
Jonathan nodded his head. "Not a problem, sir. Make sure she knows she can ask me for anything. I owe it to her." .
As soon as the young man left, Oswald Cobblepot was on the phone again.
He saw great potential in this Jonathan, potential to eliminate New Gotham's new crime fighter, the one obstacle that could prevent the Penguin from owning this city.
He picked up his phone, and instructed his secretary to send up Lieutenant Davis, head of his own private security force, and a crooked cop who made sure that no crime in New Gotham could ever be traced back to Oswald Cobblepot, have it anything to do with him or not. Lieutenant Davis entered Oswald's office and took a seat.
"You wanted to see me, Boss?" Davis asked.
"Yes I did, Lieutenant." Oswald grinned.
"Well, what's up?"
"I have a solution to our mutual problem New Gotham's protector."
"What do you have in mind, boss?" Davis asked with confusion. Many had tried to stop New Gotham's protector, and all had failed. Oswald got up and waddled over to the window. He drew back the curtains to watch as the rain began.
"The young man that just left here.he is no ordinary buffoon. My daughter witnessed his strength. He could take care of our problem.that is.if the scenario presented itself in the right manner."
"What kind of scenario would this be?"
Oswald turned around to address him. "Simple. You make him believe that she is a criminal. Inform him that you took down Jamie's statement, and that you think he is the key to stopping her."
Davis got up out of his chair, and walked to the other side of the room. He then lit a cigarette. Cobblepot noted the brand, and sneered.
"Look, no one in their right mind is going to believe she's a criminal. Maybe, just maybe I could say that she's a vigilante, taking the law into her own hands and all, but even that's going to be a stretch."
"Well, I shall leave it up to you to figure it out. Do whatever you must. Get his address from my secretary on your way out."
Davis began to leave, when Cobblepot spoke again.
"Oh.and don't bother coming back, unless it's to tell me that the problem will be solved."
Davis just nodded. He knew what the task ahead of him was, and he wasn't going to fail. No one failed Oswald Cobblepot.
Jonathan grabbed some food from a local store, and headed to his new apartment. When he got there someone was waiting for him, just outside.
"You Jonathan O Connor?"
"Yeah.who wants to know?" replied Jonathan, wondering how this man knew his 'last name'.
"I'm lieutenant Davis, New Gotham PD, and also head of Mr. Cobblepot's security. You helped his daughter out tonight, is that correct?"
Jonathan opened the door to his new apartment, and put his groceries down. "Coming in, officer?" Davis accepted the invitation and followed him in. ".yeah, I helped her out a little. Why?"
Davis walked around the empty apartment, gazing around. "Mind if I smoke?"
The lieutenant took out a cigarette, but before he could light it Jonathan snatched it out of his hand. "Yes, in fact I do." Davis chuckled, and put his lighter away.
"Well, she gave a statement earlier, and I just need to make sure everything checks out, that's all. So, there were five men in total. One took off, but the others attacked you. Now, one had a knife, is that correct?"
Jonathan nodded. "Five guys, huh? Well now, I've been on the force for a long time now, and not once have I ever heard of someone taking out five guys alone, one of which was armed."
"Four. There were four of them. Like you said, one took off."
"Four, right. Either way, that's pretty impressive.wouldn't you say?"
There was a short pause. Jonathan said nothing.
"Now, I'm guessing that you're not.ordinary.and that you would prefer that this incident would remain uninvestigated. After all, I do my homework.and no Jonathan O'Connor exists anywhere in these United States of America, or at least, not a single one matching your description.
Agitated, and not liking at all the direction this conversation was taking, Jonathan asked in a quiet, dangerous-sounding voice, "What do you want from me?"
"Simple. The police have a situation on their hands here in New Gotham. A vigilante - she calls herself the Huntress, or something like that - now, she hasn't really broken any laws yet, but she is taking the law into her own hands. "
Jonathan was intrigued, but not enough to lend a hand to the police, or criminals, for that matter.
"So where do I come in, and what do you want me to do?"
Davis smiled. "This is off the record, of course. But, just so we're clear: I never mentioned this to you. If anything comes up, I'll deny ever being here."
Jonathan nodded.
"I want her out of the picture. For good. Break her. Kill her. Make her magically disappear for all I care, just make sure she isn't around anymore. You have one month. After that, if you've done what I've asked, then you will have no problems to speak of. A few phone calls, and -poof-- you officially exist. If you don't, then."
He leaned in close to Jonathan's face, his breath reeking of cheap tobacco.
I'll find out everything about you. Everything. And you'll wind up being pursued by every costumed freak this side of Metropolis. You got that?"
Jonathan didn't care for his options at the moment. Either he destroyed someone's life, or let his own be destroyed before it even started.
In the end, there really was no choice.
"I'll take care of it. Now leave."
Davis smiled and walked out the door. "One month, boy. That's all you have. Better make good use of your time."
And then, he was gone, and Jonathan suddenly knew what he had to do in order to have a normal life.
He had to take out this Huntress, and he had to do it quickly.
To Be Continued
Birds Of Prey: New Beginnings
Chapter 1: New Arrival
High above the streets of New Gotham, Huntress prowled the city looking for some crime that needed to be stopped. Unfortunately, since the arrest of Harley Quinn, crime was slow - too slow for Huntress.
"Huntress, do you read me? Come in, Huntress."
"I'm here, Oracle. What is it now?'
"Look, I hate to say this, but you've been out there for a few hours now, and there's been virtually nothing happening. And what is happening, the police seem to have a handle on. You should just head back."
Helena rolled her eyes. She knew Barbara was right, but she didn't want to admit it - she hadn't kicked some criminal ass in a few weeks now. "Fine. I'll do one more sweep on my way back to the Clock Tower, and then I'll call it a night."
"Huntress, one more thing. On your way back, swing by No Man's land and get Dinah. She was supposed to be back an hour ago, and she's turned her comm set off."
Helena laughed. "Turned it off again, huh? How many times does this make? And what's she doing there? Didn't you send her out on an assignment?"
"3 times this past week, and yes I sent her out, but by the time she got there the cops already had a handle on the situation. So she asked if she was done could she swing by the No Man's Land to hang out for a while. I didn't seem the harm as long as she was home by curfew. She's starting to remind me of you."
"Don't want that now, do we? Don't worry Oracle, I'll get her home."
Meanwhile, at the bus station, the usual newcomers were entering the city, any one of them looking to get away from their everyday lives. However, one individual was here to try and start his life - for better or for worse. A young man walked off the bus: his name was Jonathan, and he was a meta- human, although he hid that fact from everyone.
He had superhuman strength and an increased sense of smell. He stood just over 6 feet tall, with brown hair, shaved short. He had a piercing above his eyebrow, and one in his chin. He wore a red flannel shirt over a gray hooded sweatshirt, and a thick black leather jacket that was showing quite a bit of wear and tear. He sported also black cargo pants, with a long chain hanging from the left side. His life had not been an easy one; he had no home to speak of, and had never known his parents - the only family he knew were the scientists that tried to turn him into a weapon from the time he was a child. He knew things would be different here in New Gotham, he just didn't know how different.
Huntress leaped down before the entrance to No Man's Land and walked in. Dinah didn't even realize Helena was behind her.
"Well boys, looks like that's five games for me..."
Dinah's face almost went white as she turned around, and standing there with her arms crossed was Helena, not looking happy.
"Helena, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out on patrol?"
Helena just looked at her. "You were supposed to be home an hour ago, you know."
"I know, I just lost track of time. I was having too much fun beating these guys!"
"Look, just get back to the clock tower, or Barbara will have both our heads."
Dinah grabbed her coat. "You coming?"
"I'll catch up with you."
Dinah knew that Helena just didn't want to be around when Barbara gave her the whole speech about responsibility, and being back on time. After all, Helena herself had heard it enough.
The streets of New Gotham were littered with low lives and criminals just waiting for their next target, mainly some of Gotham's upper class citizens. Jonathan walked the streets, looking for a place to stay, or a chance to get some cash. He was starving. He hadn't eaten for a week, having spent all his money getting a ticket to this godforsaken place. He was walking past the theater, when out of the corner of his eye; he spotted a group of men loitering. They looked suspicious. He figured out why pretty quickly: the last movie of the night had let out, and it was picking time for these guys. He decided to stick around, hating the thought of anyone getting hurt by thugs such as these, especially since he knew he could stop them.
The elevator doors in the clock tower opened, and Dinah walked in. Alfred was the first to meet her.
"Good evening miss Dinah. If you're hungry, I've left supper for you in the fridge. Oh, and I believe that miss Barbara wishes to speak with you."
Dinah knew what she was in for. She just gave Alfred a 'thanks but I may not be around to enjoy the meal' look. She walked over to the control center, where Barbara was doing some much-needed maintenance on the security systems.
"Barbara, Alfred said you wanted to speak to me?" she said, innocently as she could.
Barbara, alias Oracle, took off her glasses, and rolled over closer to Dinah, with a look of both disappointment and understanding on her face. "Dinah, I know you want to spend time with your friends, but you need to be more responsible. School is first no matter what, then your duties as a crime fighter. I've probably told you this a thousand times."
Dinah couldn't help but take the opportunity for a wisecrack. "More like ten thousand."
Barbara ignored the sarcastic remark. She knew the young teenager was frustrated. "And I'll say it ten thousand more until you listen! And for the last time, leave your comm set on, please?"
Dinah knew what was coming next. "So I guess this means I'm grounded, right?""
Barbara had considered that option, but decided that she would let it slide this once.
"So, how long you grounded for?" Helena asked Dinah as she walked through the door. She gave Barbara a look, as Dinah replied, "I don't know yet."
"Well, you should be grounded for a month for all the times you've ignored me about your COM in the past week, but-"
"But what?" Dinah interrupted. Barbara gave her an ominous look.
"Let me finish, and you'll find out. I know the events over the past little while have taken their toll on all of us, so I'm going to let it go. This time, you're not grounded."
"I'm not?" Dinah asked, with noticeable enthusiasm.
"No, you're not." said Barbara.
Dinah was so overcome with excitement that her squeal of happiness caused Helena, who was unfortunately standing next to her, to almost lose her left ear's ability to function. She then ran up and hugged her mentor.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise I won't let this happen again." Barbara pried Dinah's arms off of her, canceling the near death grip.
"See that it doesn't. Now, go get something to eat."
Dinah happily walked off to do just that. Helena, rubbing her ear, walked over and sat down on Barbara's desk.
"So, what are we going to do, what with this miraculous slowdown in crime?"
Barbara rolled back in front of the monitor, and looked through the past two months' news archives. "Something big has to be coming. Calm before the storm. but until the storm starts brewing, I suppose we can cut down our crime fighting activities a bit."
Helena got up. "Alright, you're the boss." She then decided to join Dinah and get some food.
"Sure, now you listen to me." Barbara muttered with a grin as she walked away.
The weather in New Gotham was getting worse by the minute. Not only was it cold, but a heavy rain had also started to fall, and sooner or later it was going to turn to hail. The last movie had let out, and with this weather, everyone who had access to a car used it. In front of the theatre, a young girl, poorly dressed for the weather, was the last out. She took out her cell phone in an attempt call her father, or anyone from security. She needed a lift. The phone was dead. Typical.
"Damn piece of shit, always dying when I need it most." the girl mumbled. "Guess I'll have to walk."
As she started on her way, she was followed by some of the other patrons of the theatre's entrance. The men who were hanging around out front went into the alley, taking a less noticeable route.
Even through the cold air Jonathan could smell the young girl's perfume. He too, trailed her from a distance, but for reasons much less vile than her other pursuers.
She knew she was being followed, but she didn't know who or what it was. She decided to try her phone again. Someone up there must have been watching, for this time, it worked.
"Oh, thank God," she said, with a sigh of relief. But before anyone could answer, a hand was wrapped around her mouth and she was pulled into the alleyway. Her phone dropped to the ground with a clatter.
He'd seen enough. He started walking faster.
Five men, counting the one who grabbed her, who now had a knife to her throat, surrounded her. Her eyes were filled with terror and fear, as her captor withdrew his hand so she could speak.
"W-what do want from me? M-money, jewelry? Take it.b-but.please.j-just don't hurt me."
The thug with the knife looked her up and down a few times. She was an attractive young girl, after all, and these were the back alleys of Gotham.
"Well baby, what if I told you we was gonna take whatever we want? If you play nice, maybe we let you go.then again." He moved the knife slowly, the smooth hilt sliding against her skin.
.maybe we don't!" The thugs all started to laugh. She was crying now, and pleading with them still, but her efforts were futile. The one holding her took his knife and had just sliced off the top button of her shirt when a voice came from the opening of the alley.
"Let her go now, before you get hurt!" Jonathan ordered as he walked closer to them.
The one with the knife shoved the girl into the waiting arms of another of his friends, and went to deal with the uninvited guest. "Hey buddy, the FUCK you think you are, crashin' our party?" the thug asked Jonathan, looking straight into his eyes.
"Your worst nightmare."
"Your funeral," he laughed, and lunged forward, the blade aimed to cut the stranger's throat open.
Jonathan waited until the knife was about an inch away from him, then he moved. In the space of a second, he grabbed the thug's arm, and twisted it. There was a sickening pop, and the knife-wielder screamed out in pain. The next thing he knew, he was moving very fast toward some trashcans. The knife hit the ground, the sound of the impact muffled by the noise of falling tin.
Jonathan walked closer. "Let her go, and no one else gets hurt."
There was another sound then, of someone running, as one of the four remaining men fled. Two others rushed him. An elbow to the ribs took care of the first, and a standing clothesline sent the next flying. Both hit the ground unconscious.
He looked at the last thug, and waited for him to make a move. When he did, it was surprising. He threw his knife down, and brought his fists up.
"Come on, motherfucker, let's do this!"
Jonathan took off his jacket and tossed it to the ground. But before he had a chance to do anything else, a left jab landed squarely on his jaw, and then a right hook to the cheek, followed by three jabs to the stomach, chest, and solar plexus. Jonathan spat, crimson gobbets hitting the ground. A fourth came in, but was stopped as he grabbed the man's hand before it connected.
"My turn," he said, smiling.
A right jab, a left uppercut and a right hook in quick succession all landed squarely on the thug's face. He staggered back, cursing. His left eye was swollen shut, a testament to the power Jonathan put behind his punches. The thug was barley conscious, and on the verge of tipping over when Jonathan nailed a standing sidekick to the thug's jaw, sending him flying into the trashcans to join knife-boy.
Jonathan picked up his jacket, and walked over to the young girl, who was now cowering against the wall in fear for her life. She didn't know what was going on, much less if this guy was here to help her or himself.
"Are you alright?" he asked in a concerned tone. She looked up. The stranger had his hand extended to her.
"It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you." he assured her. She took his hand, and stood up.
"Thank you..." she said, trying to fight back tears. She was rubbing her arms, creating friction to keep warm. He put his leather jacket around her. "Here."
She looked at him again, in the eyes this time "Thanks.my name's Jamie.what's yours?"
"Jonathan.where do you live? I'll walk you home." She saw no deceit in this Jonathan's eyes. She agreed to take the escort.
Dead silence filled the air as they walked down the street, and it made Jamie nervous. "So, you live here in New Gotham, or you just visiting?"
He thought about the question for a second. "Well, I guess I live here now. I got nowhere else to go."
"Oh. So, do you have a place, or are you staying in a hotel?" He laughed. "A hotel! Yeah, that would be nice, wouldn't it?"
"What do you mean?" Jamie asked.
"Look, I'm not going to give you any sob stories about my life or anything, but I live wherever I can. Abandoned buildings, dry alleys, whatever I can find."
Jamie's face registered shock. "You mean you're homeless?"
"If you want to put it like that, sure."
Well, he'd probably saved her life, after all.
"Look, maybe my father can get you something. I'm sure he'll help you-"
"I don't want charity, ok?"
"This isn't charity. Call it repaying a debt to you, ok? You helped me out back there, and you didn't even have to. And don't argue with me, because I'm just going to win anyway." She smiled.
"Alright, then." Jonathan said, laughing.
They stopped in front of a large house, one obviously owned by a very wealthy family. "This is it," Jamie said with a sigh of relief. Finally the night was over, and she could put everything behind her. They walked in, and a security officer stopped them.
"Ma'am, are you alright? You're half an hour late, and your father is worried sick."
"I'm fine, thanks to Jonathan, here." She replied, "Where is my father, anyway?"
"He's in his office."
"Is it ok if I go up there?"
"I'm sure it's fine," the officer responded. "Have a good night, ma'am,"
They walked up a spiraling staircase to the third floor, where her father's office was, and she opened the door. Her father was on the phone, obviously with the police, sitting on a plush chair and facing away from the door. He was extremely agitated, as the chair was rocking back and forth. A plume of smoke drifted out from behind it. It smelled expensive, probably imported.
"Now you listen to me! I pay my taxes like everyone else - hell, I pay more than everyone else, and when I ask you to help me find my daughter, you tell me there's simply nothing you can do? Let me speak with the commissioner now, or I'll have your badge on a plate!!"
"Daddy, I'm here! I'm fine! Now, stop yelling at the police!" Jamie said with a laugh.
The chair stopped rocking, and there was a long pause.
"Officer, I sincerely apologize. You must understand that I was just worried about her safety. Good day, now." The phone clicked into a receiver, and the chair turned around. The man inside got up, and began to move toward them.
Walking - no, rather, waddling- towards Jonathan and Jamie on expensive- looking leather slippers was a short, squat, plump middle-aged man. Balding on top, he wore a smoking jacket over a white undershirt, and lined gray pants. A stick of tobacco was held by the cigarette holder clasped between the thin lips underneath a long, curved nose. A monocle was in place over the right beady little eye.
"Jamie, I'm ever so glad to see you're safe-and who is this young man?" her father asked, his head moving up and down sharply as he took Jonathan in, not unlike a parrot's head might.
"This is Jonathan. He helped me out of a situation which I'll explain later."
The man extended one white-gloved hand. "Oswald Cobblepot, and it is a pleasure to meet anyone who is responsible for my sweet little girl's safety." Jonathan shook it.
"I would love to speak with you, my boy. But first, would you mind waiting here, while I speak with my daughter in the next room?"
"I got no where else to be," Jonathan replied.
Jamie took off Jonathan's leather jacket, and gave him a hug, followed by the jacket.
"Thanks! We'll only be a moment."
"No worries," Jonathan replied, smiling as she walked through the door, and closed it behind her. He sat down on a fluffy black couch while Jamie and her father spoke, closed his eyes and enjoyed the time he had to relax.
A few minutes later Oswald Cobblepot returned. "My daughter speaks highly of you, Mr.what is your last name, anyhow?" The cigarette holder bobbed up and down as he spoke.
Jonathan thought about it for a minute. No one had ever asked him that, and he honestly didn't know if he had one. He then remembered the name of the one man who he considered to be a father to him - his former martial arts and boxing teacher.
"O'Connor, Jonathan O'Connor." Oswald nodded, and studied him for a moment.
"Alright then. Mr. O'Connor, my daughter informs me that you have just arrived here in Gotham, have nowhere to stay, and are without money. Is this true?"
He didn't want to talk about it, but he wasn't ashamed of what he was.
"Yes, it's true."
"Well then, that's unfortunate you see, because you my friend are a good man, also one who has some obvious experience in self-defense. You have selflessly saved my daughter tonight, and in doing so, giving me a debt I cannot even begin to repay. I cannot thank you enough, but I can try." Oswald waddled over to his desk, and pulled out some folders. He settled on the one he wanted, opened it up, and began to scribble on a piece of paper with a genuine quill, which he now and then dipped into a nearby inkwell. "Come over to the table, if you please."
Jonathan got up, and walked over to the desk. "First thing in the morning, take this down to New Gotham First National Bank. Ask to speak with the manager, and when you do, give him this. He will set up an account for you, and fifty thousand will be deposited into this account."
Jonathan didn't know what to say. He shook his head. "I can't take that.it's not right."
Oswald looked up at him, and raised an eyebrow. "You can take it, and you will. That's nothing to me compared to her life."
He inhaled deeply, and settled back in his chair, looking at Jonathan again with those beady eyes.
"Do you - or rather, did you go to school, where you came from?"
"I never got all the way through high school. I did complete my pre-final semester though, and I'd like to return and finish up. Why do you ask?"
"I see." Oswald opened up a different folder, and selected another paper, wrote something on it, and handed it to him along with the first paper. "Take this to New Gotham High School tomorrow, after you make your arrangements at the bank. Talk to the principal. I'm sure something can be worked out."
Jonathan stood there, simply astounded at Mr. Cobblepot's generosity as he selected another paper.
"Now then, the next order of business is a place for you to stay, my boy. I happen to own some fine property on the other side of town, a few condominiums." He handed him the quill. "Simply sign this lease." He put out his cigarette in a golden ashtray, and selected another from a nearby case. "Rent free as long as you live in New Gotham. In fact, all of your bills will be prepaid." He lit his cigarette, and fumbled in his pocket for something. When his hand came out, it was with a roll of bills, easily a couple of hundred. "And here.get yourself some clothes, and some food. I imagine you're hungry."
After accepting the money graciously, Jonathan shook Oswald's hand again. "Thank you so much, sir.this means a lot to me. I feel as though I owe you something."
"No, not at all, friend. You owe me nothing. I still owe you more than I can ever possibly repay.but I do need to ask you another favor." He leaned over the table and spoke in a quiet tone.
"Jamie may indeed be a popular girl in school. However.she is young, and naïve. She trusts far too easily. So long as she attends that school, she is a potential target for ruffians. To date, nothing has happened, but.I believe I can trust you, so I ask you; please watch over her, and make sure it stays that way."
Jonathan nodded his head. "Not a problem, sir. Make sure she knows she can ask me for anything. I owe it to her." .
As soon as the young man left, Oswald Cobblepot was on the phone again.
He saw great potential in this Jonathan, potential to eliminate New Gotham's new crime fighter, the one obstacle that could prevent the Penguin from owning this city.
He picked up his phone, and instructed his secretary to send up Lieutenant Davis, head of his own private security force, and a crooked cop who made sure that no crime in New Gotham could ever be traced back to Oswald Cobblepot, have it anything to do with him or not. Lieutenant Davis entered Oswald's office and took a seat.
"You wanted to see me, Boss?" Davis asked.
"Yes I did, Lieutenant." Oswald grinned.
"Well, what's up?"
"I have a solution to our mutual problem New Gotham's protector."
"What do you have in mind, boss?" Davis asked with confusion. Many had tried to stop New Gotham's protector, and all had failed. Oswald got up and waddled over to the window. He drew back the curtains to watch as the rain began.
"The young man that just left here.he is no ordinary buffoon. My daughter witnessed his strength. He could take care of our problem.that is.if the scenario presented itself in the right manner."
"What kind of scenario would this be?"
Oswald turned around to address him. "Simple. You make him believe that she is a criminal. Inform him that you took down Jamie's statement, and that you think he is the key to stopping her."
Davis got up out of his chair, and walked to the other side of the room. He then lit a cigarette. Cobblepot noted the brand, and sneered.
"Look, no one in their right mind is going to believe she's a criminal. Maybe, just maybe I could say that she's a vigilante, taking the law into her own hands and all, but even that's going to be a stretch."
"Well, I shall leave it up to you to figure it out. Do whatever you must. Get his address from my secretary on your way out."
Davis began to leave, when Cobblepot spoke again.
"Oh.and don't bother coming back, unless it's to tell me that the problem will be solved."
Davis just nodded. He knew what the task ahead of him was, and he wasn't going to fail. No one failed Oswald Cobblepot.
Jonathan grabbed some food from a local store, and headed to his new apartment. When he got there someone was waiting for him, just outside.
"You Jonathan O Connor?"
"Yeah.who wants to know?" replied Jonathan, wondering how this man knew his 'last name'.
"I'm lieutenant Davis, New Gotham PD, and also head of Mr. Cobblepot's security. You helped his daughter out tonight, is that correct?"
Jonathan opened the door to his new apartment, and put his groceries down. "Coming in, officer?" Davis accepted the invitation and followed him in. ".yeah, I helped her out a little. Why?"
Davis walked around the empty apartment, gazing around. "Mind if I smoke?"
The lieutenant took out a cigarette, but before he could light it Jonathan snatched it out of his hand. "Yes, in fact I do." Davis chuckled, and put his lighter away.
"Well, she gave a statement earlier, and I just need to make sure everything checks out, that's all. So, there were five men in total. One took off, but the others attacked you. Now, one had a knife, is that correct?"
Jonathan nodded. "Five guys, huh? Well now, I've been on the force for a long time now, and not once have I ever heard of someone taking out five guys alone, one of which was armed."
"Four. There were four of them. Like you said, one took off."
"Four, right. Either way, that's pretty impressive.wouldn't you say?"
There was a short pause. Jonathan said nothing.
"Now, I'm guessing that you're not.ordinary.and that you would prefer that this incident would remain uninvestigated. After all, I do my homework.and no Jonathan O'Connor exists anywhere in these United States of America, or at least, not a single one matching your description.
Agitated, and not liking at all the direction this conversation was taking, Jonathan asked in a quiet, dangerous-sounding voice, "What do you want from me?"
"Simple. The police have a situation on their hands here in New Gotham. A vigilante - she calls herself the Huntress, or something like that - now, she hasn't really broken any laws yet, but she is taking the law into her own hands. "
Jonathan was intrigued, but not enough to lend a hand to the police, or criminals, for that matter.
"So where do I come in, and what do you want me to do?"
Davis smiled. "This is off the record, of course. But, just so we're clear: I never mentioned this to you. If anything comes up, I'll deny ever being here."
Jonathan nodded.
"I want her out of the picture. For good. Break her. Kill her. Make her magically disappear for all I care, just make sure she isn't around anymore. You have one month. After that, if you've done what I've asked, then you will have no problems to speak of. A few phone calls, and -poof-- you officially exist. If you don't, then."
He leaned in close to Jonathan's face, his breath reeking of cheap tobacco.
I'll find out everything about you. Everything. And you'll wind up being pursued by every costumed freak this side of Metropolis. You got that?"
Jonathan didn't care for his options at the moment. Either he destroyed someone's life, or let his own be destroyed before it even started.
In the end, there really was no choice.
"I'll take care of it. Now leave."
Davis smiled and walked out the door. "One month, boy. That's all you have. Better make good use of your time."
And then, he was gone, and Jonathan suddenly knew what he had to do in order to have a normal life.
He had to take out this Huntress, and he had to do it quickly.
To Be Continued
