Batman Beyond: Fatale Fury
CATgrl: I hope you take time off to read this. The furious Dana slagging and bashing is for you thanking you for: being my only reviewer, writing a fun story of your own and being a fan of Dana crushing. This time both Catwoman and Erika
Chapter 4: Malapropism She Purred
The Orphan hit the rail car with a wheeze. Blood trickled from Sketch's lip and hairline, a bruise was forming under his eye but the others were in worse shape. 'Come on' he rasped. 'Bring it on. I don't see the blood, I don't feel fear...I may live in an inhuman world of black, white and all in between SO I DON'T FEEL FEAR!'
The first person moved. He spun and kicked the idiot into Brubaker. 'You don't get it' he snarled. 'Cartland's gonna get us killed and Victor doesn't care so long as he gets his honour back.' He blocked a jab and slammed a fist into the solorplexus of the young woman. 'I've fought since Rocco found me...and if I have to I'll do my little Empathy on you...and that's the end for you because you'll perpetually be wetting yourself in fear...I won't do it unless I have to. As far as I know I have no family and you guys come close. So I'll take on all comers and beat them down but get this, I amn't going to let you think I want to do anything other then help this motley band of ours...'
He turned and walked away.
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Erika swept down the halls of Gallant High. The principal had just berated her for tardiness. 'I have a burning desire to bust his knee' she muttered. 'So what if he has the same freaking last name as the school? It's a stupid "war hero's" named school all this guy did was...' she paused and looked at the cat on her shoulder. 'What did he do?'
The cat yawned and Erika nodded. 'Tonight...Tonight I bring this scumbag city down, rip its heart out and force feed it to Delphine Cartland with stale beer...'
She paused at the statue, it was like someone had inflated the actual Gallant guy and covered him in bronze. She looked at his right knee. 'Hmm...'
She spun a kick and the knee of the statue shattered. 'Why does that feel so damn Déjà vu?' she wondered aloud.
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Terry was blending into the wall of the centre, overlooking the Christmas tree. Dana was below. With Blade and Max, Nelson and two other guys. He wished so badly he could be down there...
"Terry?" Bruce called. "No sign of Catwoman OR Victor Zeiss...though I did dig up some Data on the latter".
"Hit me with it" whispered Terry.
"Victor Zeiss, named after his Great-Uncle, trained by the same men who'd taught his father...but he wasn't able to under go the surgery his father had. However he made up for it with a meditation focus that lets him slow time in his mind."
"Great" Terry grunted. "So how do I know his slow-mo off?"
"Make him lose focus," replied Bruce.
"Sound like fun" grunted Terry. He paused...the lights around the tree were about to come on. Delphi Cartland hit the button and the spot lights clunked on. And everyone screamed, because a giant Cheshire cat with more menacing features was superimposed on the area. The woman glared at Roma who shrugged...and then it happened.
"REEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW" the feline shriek rang out. "Hello Gotham" the voice purred.
The Orphans burst from the sewers and alleys, terrifying the people and forcing them into a tight circle. Catwoman leapt through the air and grabbed the tree; she slid down and landed on the stage. Barbara Gordon grabbed her gun and rose but a kick sent her speeding off the stage. "Babs! Darling! Let's get together and steal a motorcycle sometime!" Catwoman cackled. She cart wheeled over to the big red button and waved her hands over it. "Hocus...focus...choke-us...pocus!"
She swung around and savagely back fisted Roma into the tree before catching Delphi in the side of the head with a spin kick. "I'm not one for speeches so how about I just say this and let it be all? MEEEEEOOOOOOWWWWWW!"
And with that she launched off the stage into a series of back flips. Batman descended, hurling a batarang at her. She dropped lowing to the splits and caught the batarang in her teeth. "Mmmmm" she purred and spat the batarang out before curling back into a cartwheel by swivelling her hips and legs slightly. She wrapped an arm around Dana's neck.
"Sorry girl talk...ya know?" she slammed her head into Dana's face and left the girl unconscious before loading the girl over her shoulder and pointing her gauntlet up. The Cat cable hissed through the air and hit a building. Erika took off.
Terry leapt up, his thrusters firing and sending him shooting after her...the foot crashed into his face heavily and forced him down. He skidded through the snow as Sketch landed in a crouch, drawing the batons from his boots and readying himself.
"Wow you have a way with women" Sketch said. "I'm positively green with envy."
"Isn't everything with you?" quipped Terry.
The boy spun at him and slammed him so hard in the wrist he could have sworn he felt it almost pop out. He ducked the next swing and punched Sketch hard in the face. The goggles glowed and a bust of pain ran through Terry's face.
"Turn about is fair play," snapped Sketch as he lunged forwards into a flip kick. Terry and the Orphan struck out at each other. Their strikes filled with anger and power. Terry had to save Dana. Sketch needed to defeat Terry.
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"HELLLLLLP!" Dana shrieked. She was teetering on the top of the Hedare Cosmetics skyscraper. The wind blew her hair across her face. Catwoman dragged the girl along the roof with a sigh. "SOMEONE! HELLLLP!"
"Oh---SHUT UP!" roared Catwoman. She grabbed Dana's throat and hoisted her up with a snarl. "How pathetic! You actually need someone to save you? You can't DIY for once princess?" she spat so viciously Dana flinched. The veil over her mouth was pulled back and now the voice was much clearer. "I can't believe I didn't leave you to those thugs in the alley. The difference between you in me is that I don't take the crap I'm told as a child. Boys can be whatever the want, a girl can be whatever she wants provided the men accept it. An MRS is more important then a PhD and that its more important not to get your dress dirty then it is to be yourself!"
Behind her there was a thud. "I left Sketch eating my dust" Batman said as he advanced. Catwoman turned and looked at him with a dark smile. "Just for you kitty cat. So...black is your colour? That makes you a Black cat?"
"Cross my path and find out" she grinned. She slung Dana across the roof onto a glass roof a level below. "Here we go babeliscious". She cart wheeled forwards and slashed down with both claws. "I think you'll find I have my own gadgets, so let's see if your belt is more then a pretty accessory".
Catwoman raised her arm and steadied it. The small bullet of steel shot at Terry, he leapt aside as it shrieked into a wall and exploded. She fired two more missiles before hitting a button on the gauntlet and spinning into a kick. Terry raised his hands. The small nozzles clicked out from his wrists and fired the blast of lightening.
Erika fell back with a feline shriek of pleasure-pain. She rolled aside and spiralled to her feet. "Oh that was good!" she gasped.
Terry hurled the small disk at her. It burst open into a net. Erika acted fast and slashed an arch with her claws. The net fell to tatters as the claws grew to full length making her look like Lady Deathstrike. She swept her body at Terry. He ducked low and slammed himself into her gut. She gasped in excited pain and used his momentum in conjunction with her fall to toss him over. Erika's talons retracted a little and crackled with lightening.
"Cat Scratch Fever baby" she smirked and swiped out at him. Terry pulled back and ducked a kick retaliating with a punch that sent her staggering backwards. He rushed towards Dana's position below. The legs snared his neck in a vice grip like no other. He was dragged backwards and slammed into the roof.
"Oh that was a pain" grimaced Terry. He swept low and knocked her legs from under her. The blue hilted dagger skittered across the ground and exploded into an electric cloud. He threw himself on top of her. She laughed and dug a talon into his belt, the electric shock ran up it. Terry shouted out.
"Is that a stun bomb in your pocket or are you happy to see me?" she snapped her thighs around chest and flipped him over so she was on top. "This is Round 2 babe where's the spunk?"
"Here" Terry said. His fist crackled with light and he slammed it into her face. She shrieked and fell away with a shout. Rolling aside Erika landed on all fours, stretching and shifting into a feline-attack position. Terry leapt up; she lunged at him and raked her talons at him. He dragged himself away and slammed a fist into the side of her face.
She backhanded him and somersault-kicked him backwards. She sauntered towards the ledge and hopped down to stand beside Dana who was frantically trying to get off the glass roof over the balcony.
The whip coiled around Dana's neck and Erika dragged her over. "Well I guess us girls have to split up. But let's do this again". With a savage kick the Catwoman sent Dana flying off the building...Terry shot past the woman who let out a yowl of rage and readied a button bomb to throw. The batarang hit the side of her hand and knocked the bomb behind her. The detonator clattered to the ground and flickered. Terry landed on the rooftop...Catwoman was hanging from the railings hanging out away from the balcony she'd held Dana on.
"Be right back" Terry said.
"Leave her" Dana shouted. "Help ME!"
Terry landed on the balcony; Catwoman was hanging from the shattered railing. She swung forwards as the railing buckled, and teetered on the sole of her heeled boot before slipping down towards earth. Terry stamped down and caught her hand. She was floating over the Gotham River.
"This separates East and West Gotham" she stated. "Batman doesn't go to the East-End".
"Other---hand" Terry managed.
"Sure thing lover...just promise me one thing," Catwoman said casually as they began to descend in altitude, nine stories above the water. "You'll drop by my district sometime"
"---What---ever---yeah" grunted Terry.
"See you in the singles pages then" Erika smirked as she swung a hand up and nicked him on the hand with a tiny scratch from her now green claws. Terry shouted in pain and released as his hand spasm-ed. Catwoman gave a loud meow of joy and plunged towards the river.
Terry stared down at her.
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"Bruce? Oww" groaned Terry. He staggered in and collapsed on the med-lab table. "Owwwwwwwwwwwww"
"Hold on dear" a soothing voice reassured. "This is much like the illness you saved me from Bruce."
"You armed her with that?"
"A poison with similar symptoms" snapped the woman.
"Selina!"
"Don't take that tone with me Bruce Wayne!"
Terry blinked. "Do all the women in Gotham know about this?" groaned Terry and then everything went black.
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Erika was satisfied she'd washed the smell of the polluted river from her leather and vinyl costume. She sat down at her sowing machine and repaired the costume before raising the phone to her ear. "Victor? Yeah, did you get what you needed? Excellent and kudos to you... the bat gave we a bath. Let's step it up. The next lighting will be tomorrow night...I know what I'm doing," she snapped. "Adieu Cheri" she added.
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"So you trained her? And she just went on this killing spree?" scoffed Terry.
"Easy Terry" sighed Selina. "I didn't do that. She had pent up anger, an accident caused my protégé to loose it all at once and attack this city. Plus she's running about in vinyl and leather...leather yes, vinyl...a small fashion no-no."
They sat in the kitchen with mugs of coffee before them. "I refuse to tell you who she is, but I do want to stop her...honour amongst thieves."
"History is repeating itself," Bruce muttered. "Terry, what happened tonight?"
"End of the spree" replied Terry. "She dropped into the river, she's dead..."
"She's an Olympic level diver" Selina said and took a mouthful of coffee. "You'll be seeing her around, after all a Catwoman has nine lives. And that may not have killed her...after all. Being shot in the arms, legs and stomach doesn't kill a person if they don't hit the appropriate places. Trust me, I know I leapt into the Gotham River after Bruce said he wouldn't marry me...though I did want to kill Robin so I'd have space in the Batmobile...can't blame him I guess. And I was shot a few times".
"So...how do I keep track of her lives?" asked Terry after shaking his head from a pause on hearing the reasons Selina Kyle should be a name on a tombstone.
"Don't even try" Selina said. She dusted off her dress. "I have to go. A warning, tonight was a distraction, find out what else happened."
A mug fell over behind both Terry and the silent Bruce. When they turned back Selina (and a picture off the wall and a vase and a small Chinese puzzle box) was gone.
"She's good" Terry breathed.
"You have no idea" nodded Bruce.
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"Can you believe it?" Dana said. "Anyway the Cat-hag was all in my face and I was cool and controlled. And then she went all psycho on me and I slapped her and managed to beat her down..."
"How many times can she tell that story?" Max asked. They sat under a tree in the park watching the ice skaters in the rink. Dana was on a lunch bench crowded over by a group of students. Nelson and Blade looked at Max and Terry and shrugged.
"Three, four...hundred--more" laughed a voice. Erika dropped from the tree in between Max and Terry. She crossed her legs. "She was always like that, we went to middle school and kindergarten together. Ugh, she once banged her finger off the table...by the end of the day she had actually been practicing gymnastics and fallen down six flights of stairs to land in a bowl of Jell-O. Needless to say I'm a sceptic about everything she says".
The other laughed. Erika curled up close to Terry. "So, is anyone going to the relighting? Part Three, yet another sequel?"
"Na'ah" Terry laughed. "I'll take it on TV."
"Ditto" Blade said. "No way am I getting kidnapped like Dana."
"I'd lay a smack down on Catwoman if she got all up in my face" Nelson smirked.
"Interesting Theory" Erika said dryly. "What is it with men and their need to be as macho as possible around a girl?"
Nelson grinned and was rewarded with a wink. Erika slid off the bench and curled to her feet. "Sorry to but in by the way, but I just wanted to tell you all that a Soundbyte just said the Jokerz are hanging around the parks causing trouble." Erika tossed a snowball over her shoulder and nailed Dana expertly. The black haired girl looked around but couldn't spot the thrower.
"We'll be okay," Nelson said, sniggering as Dan brushed snow from her hair.
And then the Jokerz arrived.
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Zeiss loaded the blue component into the heavy cannon. "I gotta admit. This Sketch kid is seriously genius" Roma said as she ran her hands over the device. She was dressed in a sleeveless black cat suit with blue lines on the chest and legs. She wore a pair of dark blue gloves and had two pistols on her belt.
"He's tough, psychic and smart," Victor Zeiss admitted. "He kept the bat occupied for a while last night. Maybe he is useful even if he did try and destroy these plans."
"All we need is to find a place to launch the missiles from" smirked Roma.
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The J-man swung his rubber chicken at Erika. In a blur of speed she ducked low into a roll and landed in a crouch springing up to spin her legs like helicopter blades and crash the female Joker off her bike.
"Oh yeah" gasped Nelson. "She's a fox".
Terry slammed a fist into the lead Joker's face and launched the man off his bike. Max picked up a branch and swung it into the bulked up Jokers stomach knocking him into a snowdrift. Dana shrieked and hid behind the group of terrified people she'd spellbound by her story.
Three Jokers were circling, jeering...Terry cannoned into one, the others toppled over as they struck his bike and allowed escape fore the trapped people.
Dana shot past Erika in a blur; Erika stuck out her foot and tripped Dana up into a snowdrift headfirst. Dana pulled herself out and continued to shove people out of her way in the search for escape.
Trust that little snob to abandon her manErika inwardly sneered. I so hate Batman (and subsequently his tight butt) for saving her... oh well, Terry's in my paws now...
She lunged in behind Terry and grabbed a clown around the neck, judo slamming him into the ground. "Hey chuckles," she said as he leapt up and swung a hook at her. "You know, nothings cuter then---A SAD CLOWN!" She leapt and landed a kick on his midriff before pivoting into another kick without landing and following up with a third drop kick. She landed with her left leg extended fully and her right kneeling beneath her. "Nothing funnier either" she added.
The clown swung a mace painted like a jesters staff at her. She shot upwards and somersaulted over his body. She mule kicked him in the back of the knees and spun the same leg into his head as he crashed down on his knees.
"That was Yummy," she said as she walked across his back towards Terry.
Terry's fists flew, his legs whipped out dropping the Jokerz around him like cardboard plates. Nelson had tackled a Joker down and was pinning him with a wrestling move while Blade had blinded the female Joker with mace and was hitting her repeatedly with a "STAY OFF THE GRASS" sign. Max slammed a heavy kick into a joker and caught him in the jaw with a left hook.
Guess my self-defence classes paid offTerry though as Max slammed a knee into the Jokers face.
"HEY!" the lead Joker shouted. He held up the water pistol and fired. The liquid energy hissed through the air and hit Terry...Erika blurred out and shoved Terry, somehow flipping in a spin to one side under the energy jet as she knocked Terry away.
Terry landed with a shout. His right side was on fire, a sizzling hole in his jacket. Max rushed to his side leaving her pummelled assailant on the ground while Nelson and Blade shoved the other two into the lake. The Female Joker now had a cosmetics department on her face...anti-run make up...nasty.
Erika hissed and slashed the Joker in the face with her nails that seemed longer. Her pupil's narrowed and she raked her claws down his face. He screamed and tried to shoot her. "Not today babe" Erika said. "Why'ya need tools? Not man enough to try get me without them?"
She grabbed his wrist and twisted sharply, pressing the right places to make it snap like a twig. She slammed him off a tree and hissed as she rammed her knee into his sensitive area.
She backhanded him in the face...his fist caught her in the gut. She buckled and he hooked her in the face. Erika shrieked in rage and leapt as he swung another punch. She flipped over him and slid down his back, spin- hooking her leg in his stomach and scooping him over a bench. She vaulted the bench, balancing in a handstand on it for a moment before landing her heavy boots onto the J-man's gut.
"This wasn't a coincidence was it?" she purred as she placed a leg on either side of his body. "Who sent you?"
"I ain't telling you jack! They'll kill me if I do"
"And I'll torture, half-kill, let you heal, then torture you again before I kill you" Erika whispered into his ear. "And if I have time I'll jet off to Haiti and learn necromancy just so I can torture-half-kill-heal-torture- kill you again."
"Holy crap you're psycho!" gasped the J-man as Erika trailed her fingers down his torso. "O-Okay" he whimpered. "P-P-Paxton Powers hired us!"
"I see," mused Erika. "Thanks"
She punched him in the head and rose as he fell limp. "Are you guys okay?" she called.
"Fine!" Max shouted. "You?"
"Peachy" replied Erika.
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"The chemicals he hit you with became an electric charge in air," explained Bruce. "Luckily that jacket protected you". Terry poked a finger through the gaping black whole in the brown leather. "At its own expense".
"Yeah" Terry muttered, he pulled on his cowl. "What's happening tonight?"
"Nothing" Bruce said. "But...well, well...look at this. The Cartland Fashions warehouses just exploded...an expensive fire, old cognac and vodka for fuel."
"Ouch" whispered Terry as he saw the crates burst into flame. "Painful". He paused as he saw the black clad shape saunter through the flames and whip a man in the face. The Catwoman leapt to the camera and placed a sultry kiss on the screen before slamming her fist into it.
"Evidently Delphi is the cat's target. We have to protect the woman, she and Paxton Powers are an item according to Good Morning Gotham, they're having lunch at the nightclub...CYBER-Catz"
"Techno, Wunderbar" muttered Terry. "I'll stake it out..."
"Be careful," a voice from the shadows said. "I started out as The Cat, a mistress of disguise...I passed it on to her. Don't look for the obvious."
Selina placed the solved puzzle box on the computer. "I needed something to do on my way home" she shrugged. "I've possibly returned the rest of the things."
"I'll let myself guess," grunted Bruce. "Shouldn't you be at your computer? Helping your psychotic cat protégé?"
"She never listens anyway," sighed Selina. "Besides, I've already given her the schematics and blue prints to CYBER-Catz".
"I'm heading" Terry said. "I've got a cat to spay".
"Careful or you'll be the one to get neutered," whispered Selina. "She plays with emotions..."
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"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Sketch roared.
"The Magna-Cannon" Victor said, leaning on his cane. "What? You designed it."
"I destroyed the blue-prints," murmured Sketch. "It can't be used...it's too dangerous! No! You can't be making this!" He turned viciously on Victor.
"The Cat-femme has something to attend to," Victor said. "Occupying the bat for a while namely. We finish this and open fire tomorrow."
"No! You can't! Anyone whom this hits gets a coating of brain tumours in their heads! It's...it's wrong...inhumane!"
"From a sociopath that's strong" Victor sneered. "But Cartland has employed us for this purpose. So get lost rodent or I'll shatter those colour goggles before you can blink". He turned away from Sketch and felt the rage from the boy's empathic thoughts as he stormed away.
"Now this is carnage," he grinned.
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Sketch darted down the old railway and onto a platform; he climbed the steps and passed the shocked people. He exited onto the street and removed his goggles the empathic signals filled the air of the black and white world. His eyes watered, his brain throbbed and he felt his lunch try to crawl back up his tongue, but he focused and breathed out.
Where are you Batman? He focused. I GOT IT!
He raced off towards the police department.
=============================TBC==========================================
CATgrl that reviews just the right length. What do you think of Selina? I have lots of CAT related projects coming up for Erika. Should she have some transport because I want to give her and Terry a chase scene through the streets of Gotham other then on foot (though there will be one of those) and by the way, votes in for the death of Victor please. I'm giving Paxton Powers an intro but not as a huge villain...well not totally. And Delphi gets to meet Catwoman face to face.
Also. What of Sketch? General Lee Twisted is trying to steal my character sketches for his own nefarious reasons. So what do you guys think of Sketch? He's going to have a better part later. I promise!
PS: Catwoman Movie this summer, it mightn't be Selina Kyle but there is definitely good points to it. I have to see it. CATWOMAN FOREVER! CAWTOMAN RETURNS! CATWOMAN! CATWOMAN & SIDEKICK! CATWOMAN BEGINS (Batman Begins being the supposed next Batman movie.)
And here are the Easter eggs in the last chapter and there are () in this one.
CH3 Where's the fire cowboy? = Originally Catwoman said this when Batman chased her
I'm a woman! = The classic line I just love!
Whip Grip = Yet again the classic whip dangle Catwoman caught Batman in, mine's different though she had him by the arm, I had him by the neck with my OC
Patchwork costume = Selina can sew ya know
Gold belt= A nod to the Eartha Kitt, Lee Merewether and Julie Newmar's costumes.
Beti-Ma = Currently Selina is the chosen champion of the Beti-Ma cult.
Harris-Faucher = Two who worked on Catwoman...look at old issues please!
Ghosts e-mail = another from the original script, I forget what did and didn't make it
Newmar = Julie---Julie Newmar---Catwoman
Lovecroft & Arkham = Well not much of a point to make other then that it was raised in an editorial once...sorry that's me cheating again.
Alice Shreck = Shreck...Batman returns again
Snow Attackers = in the original Batman script these men attacked Selina and Bruce on a walk through the park
Moench = from the front of Catwoman issues
Brubaker = A past editor of Catwoman
Button Bomb = Clutterbuck I miss you!!! These were cat gadgets long ago
Cyanide pill = Gallant used this on Selina to make her work for him
Cats names= In Larceny Loves Company and the three issues after of Catwoman some of these characters were in the book as thieves and villains working with Selina
TTFN darlings
CATgrl: I hope you take time off to read this. The furious Dana slagging and bashing is for you thanking you for: being my only reviewer, writing a fun story of your own and being a fan of Dana crushing. This time both Catwoman and Erika
Chapter 4: Malapropism She Purred
The Orphan hit the rail car with a wheeze. Blood trickled from Sketch's lip and hairline, a bruise was forming under his eye but the others were in worse shape. 'Come on' he rasped. 'Bring it on. I don't see the blood, I don't feel fear...I may live in an inhuman world of black, white and all in between SO I DON'T FEEL FEAR!'
The first person moved. He spun and kicked the idiot into Brubaker. 'You don't get it' he snarled. 'Cartland's gonna get us killed and Victor doesn't care so long as he gets his honour back.' He blocked a jab and slammed a fist into the solorplexus of the young woman. 'I've fought since Rocco found me...and if I have to I'll do my little Empathy on you...and that's the end for you because you'll perpetually be wetting yourself in fear...I won't do it unless I have to. As far as I know I have no family and you guys come close. So I'll take on all comers and beat them down but get this, I amn't going to let you think I want to do anything other then help this motley band of ours...'
He turned and walked away.
==========================
Erika swept down the halls of Gallant High. The principal had just berated her for tardiness. 'I have a burning desire to bust his knee' she muttered. 'So what if he has the same freaking last name as the school? It's a stupid "war hero's" named school all this guy did was...' she paused and looked at the cat on her shoulder. 'What did he do?'
The cat yawned and Erika nodded. 'Tonight...Tonight I bring this scumbag city down, rip its heart out and force feed it to Delphine Cartland with stale beer...'
She paused at the statue, it was like someone had inflated the actual Gallant guy and covered him in bronze. She looked at his right knee. 'Hmm...'
She spun a kick and the knee of the statue shattered. 'Why does that feel so damn Déjà vu?' she wondered aloud.
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Terry was blending into the wall of the centre, overlooking the Christmas tree. Dana was below. With Blade and Max, Nelson and two other guys. He wished so badly he could be down there...
"Terry?" Bruce called. "No sign of Catwoman OR Victor Zeiss...though I did dig up some Data on the latter".
"Hit me with it" whispered Terry.
"Victor Zeiss, named after his Great-Uncle, trained by the same men who'd taught his father...but he wasn't able to under go the surgery his father had. However he made up for it with a meditation focus that lets him slow time in his mind."
"Great" Terry grunted. "So how do I know his slow-mo off?"
"Make him lose focus," replied Bruce.
"Sound like fun" grunted Terry. He paused...the lights around the tree were about to come on. Delphi Cartland hit the button and the spot lights clunked on. And everyone screamed, because a giant Cheshire cat with more menacing features was superimposed on the area. The woman glared at Roma who shrugged...and then it happened.
"REEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW" the feline shriek rang out. "Hello Gotham" the voice purred.
The Orphans burst from the sewers and alleys, terrifying the people and forcing them into a tight circle. Catwoman leapt through the air and grabbed the tree; she slid down and landed on the stage. Barbara Gordon grabbed her gun and rose but a kick sent her speeding off the stage. "Babs! Darling! Let's get together and steal a motorcycle sometime!" Catwoman cackled. She cart wheeled over to the big red button and waved her hands over it. "Hocus...focus...choke-us...pocus!"
She swung around and savagely back fisted Roma into the tree before catching Delphi in the side of the head with a spin kick. "I'm not one for speeches so how about I just say this and let it be all? MEEEEEOOOOOOWWWWWW!"
And with that she launched off the stage into a series of back flips. Batman descended, hurling a batarang at her. She dropped lowing to the splits and caught the batarang in her teeth. "Mmmmm" she purred and spat the batarang out before curling back into a cartwheel by swivelling her hips and legs slightly. She wrapped an arm around Dana's neck.
"Sorry girl talk...ya know?" she slammed her head into Dana's face and left the girl unconscious before loading the girl over her shoulder and pointing her gauntlet up. The Cat cable hissed through the air and hit a building. Erika took off.
Terry leapt up, his thrusters firing and sending him shooting after her...the foot crashed into his face heavily and forced him down. He skidded through the snow as Sketch landed in a crouch, drawing the batons from his boots and readying himself.
"Wow you have a way with women" Sketch said. "I'm positively green with envy."
"Isn't everything with you?" quipped Terry.
The boy spun at him and slammed him so hard in the wrist he could have sworn he felt it almost pop out. He ducked the next swing and punched Sketch hard in the face. The goggles glowed and a bust of pain ran through Terry's face.
"Turn about is fair play," snapped Sketch as he lunged forwards into a flip kick. Terry and the Orphan struck out at each other. Their strikes filled with anger and power. Terry had to save Dana. Sketch needed to defeat Terry.
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"HELLLLLLP!" Dana shrieked. She was teetering on the top of the Hedare Cosmetics skyscraper. The wind blew her hair across her face. Catwoman dragged the girl along the roof with a sigh. "SOMEONE! HELLLLP!"
"Oh---SHUT UP!" roared Catwoman. She grabbed Dana's throat and hoisted her up with a snarl. "How pathetic! You actually need someone to save you? You can't DIY for once princess?" she spat so viciously Dana flinched. The veil over her mouth was pulled back and now the voice was much clearer. "I can't believe I didn't leave you to those thugs in the alley. The difference between you in me is that I don't take the crap I'm told as a child. Boys can be whatever the want, a girl can be whatever she wants provided the men accept it. An MRS is more important then a PhD and that its more important not to get your dress dirty then it is to be yourself!"
Behind her there was a thud. "I left Sketch eating my dust" Batman said as he advanced. Catwoman turned and looked at him with a dark smile. "Just for you kitty cat. So...black is your colour? That makes you a Black cat?"
"Cross my path and find out" she grinned. She slung Dana across the roof onto a glass roof a level below. "Here we go babeliscious". She cart wheeled forwards and slashed down with both claws. "I think you'll find I have my own gadgets, so let's see if your belt is more then a pretty accessory".
Catwoman raised her arm and steadied it. The small bullet of steel shot at Terry, he leapt aside as it shrieked into a wall and exploded. She fired two more missiles before hitting a button on the gauntlet and spinning into a kick. Terry raised his hands. The small nozzles clicked out from his wrists and fired the blast of lightening.
Erika fell back with a feline shriek of pleasure-pain. She rolled aside and spiralled to her feet. "Oh that was good!" she gasped.
Terry hurled the small disk at her. It burst open into a net. Erika acted fast and slashed an arch with her claws. The net fell to tatters as the claws grew to full length making her look like Lady Deathstrike. She swept her body at Terry. He ducked low and slammed himself into her gut. She gasped in excited pain and used his momentum in conjunction with her fall to toss him over. Erika's talons retracted a little and crackled with lightening.
"Cat Scratch Fever baby" she smirked and swiped out at him. Terry pulled back and ducked a kick retaliating with a punch that sent her staggering backwards. He rushed towards Dana's position below. The legs snared his neck in a vice grip like no other. He was dragged backwards and slammed into the roof.
"Oh that was a pain" grimaced Terry. He swept low and knocked her legs from under her. The blue hilted dagger skittered across the ground and exploded into an electric cloud. He threw himself on top of her. She laughed and dug a talon into his belt, the electric shock ran up it. Terry shouted out.
"Is that a stun bomb in your pocket or are you happy to see me?" she snapped her thighs around chest and flipped him over so she was on top. "This is Round 2 babe where's the spunk?"
"Here" Terry said. His fist crackled with light and he slammed it into her face. She shrieked and fell away with a shout. Rolling aside Erika landed on all fours, stretching and shifting into a feline-attack position. Terry leapt up; she lunged at him and raked her talons at him. He dragged himself away and slammed a fist into the side of her face.
She backhanded him and somersault-kicked him backwards. She sauntered towards the ledge and hopped down to stand beside Dana who was frantically trying to get off the glass roof over the balcony.
The whip coiled around Dana's neck and Erika dragged her over. "Well I guess us girls have to split up. But let's do this again". With a savage kick the Catwoman sent Dana flying off the building...Terry shot past the woman who let out a yowl of rage and readied a button bomb to throw. The batarang hit the side of her hand and knocked the bomb behind her. The detonator clattered to the ground and flickered. Terry landed on the rooftop...Catwoman was hanging from the railings hanging out away from the balcony she'd held Dana on.
"Be right back" Terry said.
"Leave her" Dana shouted. "Help ME!"
Terry landed on the balcony; Catwoman was hanging from the shattered railing. She swung forwards as the railing buckled, and teetered on the sole of her heeled boot before slipping down towards earth. Terry stamped down and caught her hand. She was floating over the Gotham River.
"This separates East and West Gotham" she stated. "Batman doesn't go to the East-End".
"Other---hand" Terry managed.
"Sure thing lover...just promise me one thing," Catwoman said casually as they began to descend in altitude, nine stories above the water. "You'll drop by my district sometime"
"---What---ever---yeah" grunted Terry.
"See you in the singles pages then" Erika smirked as she swung a hand up and nicked him on the hand with a tiny scratch from her now green claws. Terry shouted in pain and released as his hand spasm-ed. Catwoman gave a loud meow of joy and plunged towards the river.
Terry stared down at her.
===========================================
"Bruce? Oww" groaned Terry. He staggered in and collapsed on the med-lab table. "Owwwwwwwwwwwww"
"Hold on dear" a soothing voice reassured. "This is much like the illness you saved me from Bruce."
"You armed her with that?"
"A poison with similar symptoms" snapped the woman.
"Selina!"
"Don't take that tone with me Bruce Wayne!"
Terry blinked. "Do all the women in Gotham know about this?" groaned Terry and then everything went black.
==========================================
Erika was satisfied she'd washed the smell of the polluted river from her leather and vinyl costume. She sat down at her sowing machine and repaired the costume before raising the phone to her ear. "Victor? Yeah, did you get what you needed? Excellent and kudos to you... the bat gave we a bath. Let's step it up. The next lighting will be tomorrow night...I know what I'm doing," she snapped. "Adieu Cheri" she added.
==============================================
"So you trained her? And she just went on this killing spree?" scoffed Terry.
"Easy Terry" sighed Selina. "I didn't do that. She had pent up anger, an accident caused my protégé to loose it all at once and attack this city. Plus she's running about in vinyl and leather...leather yes, vinyl...a small fashion no-no."
They sat in the kitchen with mugs of coffee before them. "I refuse to tell you who she is, but I do want to stop her...honour amongst thieves."
"History is repeating itself," Bruce muttered. "Terry, what happened tonight?"
"End of the spree" replied Terry. "She dropped into the river, she's dead..."
"She's an Olympic level diver" Selina said and took a mouthful of coffee. "You'll be seeing her around, after all a Catwoman has nine lives. And that may not have killed her...after all. Being shot in the arms, legs and stomach doesn't kill a person if they don't hit the appropriate places. Trust me, I know I leapt into the Gotham River after Bruce said he wouldn't marry me...though I did want to kill Robin so I'd have space in the Batmobile...can't blame him I guess. And I was shot a few times".
"So...how do I keep track of her lives?" asked Terry after shaking his head from a pause on hearing the reasons Selina Kyle should be a name on a tombstone.
"Don't even try" Selina said. She dusted off her dress. "I have to go. A warning, tonight was a distraction, find out what else happened."
A mug fell over behind both Terry and the silent Bruce. When they turned back Selina (and a picture off the wall and a vase and a small Chinese puzzle box) was gone.
"She's good" Terry breathed.
"You have no idea" nodded Bruce.
===================================================================
"Can you believe it?" Dana said. "Anyway the Cat-hag was all in my face and I was cool and controlled. And then she went all psycho on me and I slapped her and managed to beat her down..."
"How many times can she tell that story?" Max asked. They sat under a tree in the park watching the ice skaters in the rink. Dana was on a lunch bench crowded over by a group of students. Nelson and Blade looked at Max and Terry and shrugged.
"Three, four...hundred--more" laughed a voice. Erika dropped from the tree in between Max and Terry. She crossed her legs. "She was always like that, we went to middle school and kindergarten together. Ugh, she once banged her finger off the table...by the end of the day she had actually been practicing gymnastics and fallen down six flights of stairs to land in a bowl of Jell-O. Needless to say I'm a sceptic about everything she says".
The other laughed. Erika curled up close to Terry. "So, is anyone going to the relighting? Part Three, yet another sequel?"
"Na'ah" Terry laughed. "I'll take it on TV."
"Ditto" Blade said. "No way am I getting kidnapped like Dana."
"I'd lay a smack down on Catwoman if she got all up in my face" Nelson smirked.
"Interesting Theory" Erika said dryly. "What is it with men and their need to be as macho as possible around a girl?"
Nelson grinned and was rewarded with a wink. Erika slid off the bench and curled to her feet. "Sorry to but in by the way, but I just wanted to tell you all that a Soundbyte just said the Jokerz are hanging around the parks causing trouble." Erika tossed a snowball over her shoulder and nailed Dana expertly. The black haired girl looked around but couldn't spot the thrower.
"We'll be okay," Nelson said, sniggering as Dan brushed snow from her hair.
And then the Jokerz arrived.
==============================================
Zeiss loaded the blue component into the heavy cannon. "I gotta admit. This Sketch kid is seriously genius" Roma said as she ran her hands over the device. She was dressed in a sleeveless black cat suit with blue lines on the chest and legs. She wore a pair of dark blue gloves and had two pistols on her belt.
"He's tough, psychic and smart," Victor Zeiss admitted. "He kept the bat occupied for a while last night. Maybe he is useful even if he did try and destroy these plans."
"All we need is to find a place to launch the missiles from" smirked Roma.
==============================================
The J-man swung his rubber chicken at Erika. In a blur of speed she ducked low into a roll and landed in a crouch springing up to spin her legs like helicopter blades and crash the female Joker off her bike.
"Oh yeah" gasped Nelson. "She's a fox".
Terry slammed a fist into the lead Joker's face and launched the man off his bike. Max picked up a branch and swung it into the bulked up Jokers stomach knocking him into a snowdrift. Dana shrieked and hid behind the group of terrified people she'd spellbound by her story.
Three Jokers were circling, jeering...Terry cannoned into one, the others toppled over as they struck his bike and allowed escape fore the trapped people.
Dana shot past Erika in a blur; Erika stuck out her foot and tripped Dana up into a snowdrift headfirst. Dana pulled herself out and continued to shove people out of her way in the search for escape.
Trust that little snob to abandon her manErika inwardly sneered. I so hate Batman (and subsequently his tight butt) for saving her... oh well, Terry's in my paws now...
She lunged in behind Terry and grabbed a clown around the neck, judo slamming him into the ground. "Hey chuckles," she said as he leapt up and swung a hook at her. "You know, nothings cuter then---A SAD CLOWN!" She leapt and landed a kick on his midriff before pivoting into another kick without landing and following up with a third drop kick. She landed with her left leg extended fully and her right kneeling beneath her. "Nothing funnier either" she added.
The clown swung a mace painted like a jesters staff at her. She shot upwards and somersaulted over his body. She mule kicked him in the back of the knees and spun the same leg into his head as he crashed down on his knees.
"That was Yummy," she said as she walked across his back towards Terry.
Terry's fists flew, his legs whipped out dropping the Jokerz around him like cardboard plates. Nelson had tackled a Joker down and was pinning him with a wrestling move while Blade had blinded the female Joker with mace and was hitting her repeatedly with a "STAY OFF THE GRASS" sign. Max slammed a heavy kick into a joker and caught him in the jaw with a left hook.
Guess my self-defence classes paid offTerry though as Max slammed a knee into the Jokers face.
"HEY!" the lead Joker shouted. He held up the water pistol and fired. The liquid energy hissed through the air and hit Terry...Erika blurred out and shoved Terry, somehow flipping in a spin to one side under the energy jet as she knocked Terry away.
Terry landed with a shout. His right side was on fire, a sizzling hole in his jacket. Max rushed to his side leaving her pummelled assailant on the ground while Nelson and Blade shoved the other two into the lake. The Female Joker now had a cosmetics department on her face...anti-run make up...nasty.
Erika hissed and slashed the Joker in the face with her nails that seemed longer. Her pupil's narrowed and she raked her claws down his face. He screamed and tried to shoot her. "Not today babe" Erika said. "Why'ya need tools? Not man enough to try get me without them?"
She grabbed his wrist and twisted sharply, pressing the right places to make it snap like a twig. She slammed him off a tree and hissed as she rammed her knee into his sensitive area.
She backhanded him in the face...his fist caught her in the gut. She buckled and he hooked her in the face. Erika shrieked in rage and leapt as he swung another punch. She flipped over him and slid down his back, spin- hooking her leg in his stomach and scooping him over a bench. She vaulted the bench, balancing in a handstand on it for a moment before landing her heavy boots onto the J-man's gut.
"This wasn't a coincidence was it?" she purred as she placed a leg on either side of his body. "Who sent you?"
"I ain't telling you jack! They'll kill me if I do"
"And I'll torture, half-kill, let you heal, then torture you again before I kill you" Erika whispered into his ear. "And if I have time I'll jet off to Haiti and learn necromancy just so I can torture-half-kill-heal-torture- kill you again."
"Holy crap you're psycho!" gasped the J-man as Erika trailed her fingers down his torso. "O-Okay" he whimpered. "P-P-Paxton Powers hired us!"
"I see," mused Erika. "Thanks"
She punched him in the head and rose as he fell limp. "Are you guys okay?" she called.
"Fine!" Max shouted. "You?"
"Peachy" replied Erika.
==========================================
"The chemicals he hit you with became an electric charge in air," explained Bruce. "Luckily that jacket protected you". Terry poked a finger through the gaping black whole in the brown leather. "At its own expense".
"Yeah" Terry muttered, he pulled on his cowl. "What's happening tonight?"
"Nothing" Bruce said. "But...well, well...look at this. The Cartland Fashions warehouses just exploded...an expensive fire, old cognac and vodka for fuel."
"Ouch" whispered Terry as he saw the crates burst into flame. "Painful". He paused as he saw the black clad shape saunter through the flames and whip a man in the face. The Catwoman leapt to the camera and placed a sultry kiss on the screen before slamming her fist into it.
"Evidently Delphi is the cat's target. We have to protect the woman, she and Paxton Powers are an item according to Good Morning Gotham, they're having lunch at the nightclub...CYBER-Catz"
"Techno, Wunderbar" muttered Terry. "I'll stake it out..."
"Be careful," a voice from the shadows said. "I started out as The Cat, a mistress of disguise...I passed it on to her. Don't look for the obvious."
Selina placed the solved puzzle box on the computer. "I needed something to do on my way home" she shrugged. "I've possibly returned the rest of the things."
"I'll let myself guess," grunted Bruce. "Shouldn't you be at your computer? Helping your psychotic cat protégé?"
"She never listens anyway," sighed Selina. "Besides, I've already given her the schematics and blue prints to CYBER-Catz".
"I'm heading" Terry said. "I've got a cat to spay".
"Careful or you'll be the one to get neutered," whispered Selina. "She plays with emotions..."
===============================================================
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Sketch roared.
"The Magna-Cannon" Victor said, leaning on his cane. "What? You designed it."
"I destroyed the blue-prints," murmured Sketch. "It can't be used...it's too dangerous! No! You can't be making this!" He turned viciously on Victor.
"The Cat-femme has something to attend to," Victor said. "Occupying the bat for a while namely. We finish this and open fire tomorrow."
"No! You can't! Anyone whom this hits gets a coating of brain tumours in their heads! It's...it's wrong...inhumane!"
"From a sociopath that's strong" Victor sneered. "But Cartland has employed us for this purpose. So get lost rodent or I'll shatter those colour goggles before you can blink". He turned away from Sketch and felt the rage from the boy's empathic thoughts as he stormed away.
"Now this is carnage," he grinned.
==============================================
Sketch darted down the old railway and onto a platform; he climbed the steps and passed the shocked people. He exited onto the street and removed his goggles the empathic signals filled the air of the black and white world. His eyes watered, his brain throbbed and he felt his lunch try to crawl back up his tongue, but he focused and breathed out.
Where are you Batman? He focused. I GOT IT!
He raced off towards the police department.
=============================TBC==========================================
CATgrl that reviews just the right length. What do you think of Selina? I have lots of CAT related projects coming up for Erika. Should she have some transport because I want to give her and Terry a chase scene through the streets of Gotham other then on foot (though there will be one of those) and by the way, votes in for the death of Victor please. I'm giving Paxton Powers an intro but not as a huge villain...well not totally. And Delphi gets to meet Catwoman face to face.
Also. What of Sketch? General Lee Twisted is trying to steal my character sketches for his own nefarious reasons. So what do you guys think of Sketch? He's going to have a better part later. I promise!
PS: Catwoman Movie this summer, it mightn't be Selina Kyle but there is definitely good points to it. I have to see it. CATWOMAN FOREVER! CAWTOMAN RETURNS! CATWOMAN! CATWOMAN & SIDEKICK! CATWOMAN BEGINS (Batman Begins being the supposed next Batman movie.)
And here are the Easter eggs in the last chapter and there are () in this one.
CH3 Where's the fire cowboy? = Originally Catwoman said this when Batman chased her
I'm a woman! = The classic line I just love!
Whip Grip = Yet again the classic whip dangle Catwoman caught Batman in, mine's different though she had him by the arm, I had him by the neck with my OC
Patchwork costume = Selina can sew ya know
Gold belt= A nod to the Eartha Kitt, Lee Merewether and Julie Newmar's costumes.
Beti-Ma = Currently Selina is the chosen champion of the Beti-Ma cult.
Harris-Faucher = Two who worked on Catwoman...look at old issues please!
Ghosts e-mail = another from the original script, I forget what did and didn't make it
Newmar = Julie---Julie Newmar---Catwoman
Lovecroft & Arkham = Well not much of a point to make other then that it was raised in an editorial once...sorry that's me cheating again.
Alice Shreck = Shreck...Batman returns again
Snow Attackers = in the original Batman script these men attacked Selina and Bruce on a walk through the park
Moench = from the front of Catwoman issues
Brubaker = A past editor of Catwoman
Button Bomb = Clutterbuck I miss you!!! These were cat gadgets long ago
Cyanide pill = Gallant used this on Selina to make her work for him
Cats names= In Larceny Loves Company and the three issues after of Catwoman some of these characters were in the book as thieves and villains working with Selina
TTFN darlings