EAST END

CATgrl: Et voila chapter three...it's not that great...sorry

Chapter 3: Further Learning

Jamie stared at the brick wall and the cute little crinkle appeared on the bridge of her nose like it always did. Max cleared her throat and Jamie turned. "You started that mural when I went to set up the computers---three hours ago...the wall is still blank"

Jamie sighed and nodded. "No inspiration" she sighed. "As in ZIP. I just don't know what to put up...this will be in the main hall of the East End Community Centre for hundreds to see! That is a lot of pressure."

Max gave a light laugh. "You never know," she said. "Sometimes that kind of inspiration can jump out at you from nowhere...try the newspaper."

She handed Jamie a copy of The East Voice. A local Rag. The Front blared the words: "ALLEY CAT: TERROR TEMPTRESS OR DARING DAMSEL?"

"Alley Cat is thought to weigh 120 pounds!?" exclaimed Jamie. "Which hack wrote this? She'd have to be in good shape to--" she gave a growl. Max raised an eyebrow.

"Read the article, get inspiration," she suggested. "Volunteers can leave any time and you will need your rest if you want to go far in this world."

Jamie nodded and tucked the paper into her bags. "I'll see you after work here tomorrow, take care and let's do lunch" Jamie said as she walked towards the door.

Nick rubbed the back of his head. "I can't believe you signed me up for the Good Morning Gotham show! Hearsay Hilda is a brainless ignoramus!" Dave shrugged as his brother pulled the bow and hit the target set on the patio of the penthouse...that technically dominated two floors of the Gotham Meridian.

"How bad can it be? Besides, if they bring up your love life---you can tell them Alley Kitten gave you a doped magic kiss and shoved you off a roof" Dave smirked.

"Don't tempt me to beat you into a pulp" Nick grated.

Dave shrugged. "You've been researching Cat demons since the weekend when she gave you the love shove. And you've been investigating the East End bank robbery she foiled. And the fact some of the cash vanished with her...you're curious, and probably in heat."

"Being in Hell Heat is never pretty, you and I both know how it---affects me" grimaced Nick. "So---lay off...I amn't in Hell Heat...I just amn't."

"Well you're still lusting like a sailor on shore leave" sniffed Dave. "I have to run, since you signed me up for Gotham Prep...stupid snob school"

"Don't start about that again", sighed Nick. Dave went back inside and left his brother to—for the first time that evening—miss his target. "That darn cat" he muttered. He froze as the images blasted through his head---too fast for the average person to perceive. He staggered as he took them in.

Stone Calendar, the museum, ink spreading over the floor, the alarms--- he opened his eyes and groaned. "Damn, at it again" he sighed and turned to enter the penthouse.

=====================================

Jamie sat with the article in her hands.

"Alley Cat is the name for a Catwoman copy cat who appeared five times to witnesses in the past two weeks. The first was when she blew up an adult theatre that was home to the Butcher Gang. The witness then was Commissioner Barbara Gordon.

The Commissioner refused to comment on what she was doing in the East End other then a patrol, however she did mention a report of seeing a dangerous vigilante (See Page 8) nearby.

The second appearance was witness by 28 year old librarian Elma Anchorman, Alley Cat apparently defeated three muggers, one of whom is reported to have waved all rights and legal council provided he is permitted a visit from Alley Cat.

The third appearance was at an art display, she and the dangerous vigilante defeated a group of thieves, then escaped out a window.

The fourth appearance was when she foiled a bank robbery BUT she took a bag of cash with her...this behaviour is most unusual and has confused the authorities. A James Kenly who was walking his dog recently observed the fifth time; she was seen racing across the rooftops.

The police have issued this warning: Alley Cat is assumed to be dangerous and armed and not to be approached by any member of the public." Jamie tossed the paper aside. "Badly written lies," she snapped. She walked into her room and opened the chest, removing the art supplies on a tray to reveal her costume.

She checked the corset and the long black trail. "All set" she muttered and began to dress.

===========================

Dusk landed in a crouch on the roof of the art-history museum and gave a sigh. "This is it" he darted across to the glass skylight. The shadows swirled around him, enveloping him in their darkness. He watched as the inky shadows below converged on the Aztec calendar wheel...

"I'm guessing Inque is still alive..." he whispered.

The alarms blared, Inque shot upwards, her limbs jutting from around the covered disk as she burst through the glass. "I don't believe you own that" a voice from the shadows said.

"No one asked you" Inque snapped as she spun to face---empty air. The form materialized and performed a karate chop that passed right through her. She lashed at him, he flipped over the tentacle, and sharp blades appeared in his hands he hurled them at her.

She ignored the blades, choosing to shoot them back at him. "Is that the best you have?" Dusk leapt at her. His tattered looking cloak billowed.

"If you wanted my best..." he sneered. "Then all you had to do was ask..."

He landed a foot on the wheel and spun the other to splattered through the white blob of inks face. She shrieked in shock and batted him away before lunging out across the city.

=========================

Jamie leapt onto the roof and then performed a flip onto a chimney nearby. It was strange that the East End hadn't been cultivated as much as the other city. She whipped her trail of black material; she felt something in the air...

Then she saw it. A black shape was crawling along the side of a building with Dusk following above. "Oh it's the man of my nightmares," she said with a mock romance in her voice. She leapt onto a stone fixture that jutted out over the road.

She took a running jump off it and landed both feet on inks rounded side. The shape shifter gave a shriek as they crashed downwards into the roof garden.

Jamie crashed through the branches and grabbed a branch and dropped herself gracefully. Inque landed in the bushes after crashing through the trees. She slithered up off the calendar wheel and faced Jamie in full human form. "And who are you supposed to be? Catwoman? That's been done" Inque sneered.

"You know for walking sewer run off you criticize a lot" Inque's jaw dropped she lashed a hand out, morphing to her mutated form. The liquid whip shot through the air with blurring speed. To Jamie's dilated eyes it was ho-hum speed.

She ducked under the slash and gripped the thick batons on her thighs. She raised them and snapped them out, they were full sized fans now. "It's not feline but it works" she stated. She blocked two stabs of ink with the fans and performed aerial splits to avoid a geyser of black. "You should be the spokes gal for ballpoint biros you know that?" smirked Jamie.

Dusk materialized behind her. She ignored him...for some reason she had felt the approach—like a warning. She flipped over Inque and sliced the fans right through her. "Be with you in just a second" she snapped as Inque reformed.

"You're not making any progress" Inque sneered.

"I've noticed" Jamie said. "So I have but one thing to say..." she spun and hurled the fans. They sliced through the air and returned to her hands seconds later. "Watch your head."

The wooden posts creaked and fell forwards, the overhead fairy lights came with them. Inque leapt away the only way she could. Straight off the building— her limbs snapped out as the sirens filled the air, the police were coming.

"Damn it" cursed Jamie.

Two strong arms wrapped around her body. "Don't move. My invisibility in light is far from omnipotent. If you start moving they'll see us" he whispered.

Jamie stayed very still, the arms were warm and gold at the same time. The police had decided to chase Inque...Jamie waited until they were gone before she stamped a heel into the booted foot of Nick. He released in surprise and received a high-kick to the face. He blocked the punch she swung with one hand and looped the other around her arm.

Nick spun around to Jamie's back and locked her other arm painfully. "What is it with every woman I meet? Do they all need to try and kill me?"

"Kill? I was on more of a "humiliate" setting" Jamie said. She swung her leg up and slammed him in the face. He staggered back. She spun at him. He caught the next kick and pulled her forwards, she landed in the splits and swung her back leg to the front. Shoving away she rolled backwards and onto her feet.

She pulled her whip off her hips and spun, the leather cracked in the night air. She whipped it straight at him, the sting knocking him off balance. She lashed the whip. He caught it on his arm and pulled her to him.

"Kinky" he said.

"I know. When I'm fighting it gives me an edge" she trailed a clawed glove down his muscled torso and tunic. "It gives me---" she rammed a knee into his groin. "Easier targets!"

She stepped back as he fell to his knees, drawing deep breaths and cursing. He leapt up and slammed a full force punch into her face. She went stumbling back as Nick leapt into a jump kick that winded her as he swung a back fist into her cheek. She rolled off to one side and pulled the smaller fan off her left arm straps. "Here's a clichéd pun on A Fan Of Yours"

The fan hissed through the air. Nick pulled out of the way as the fan hissed past his face and then wound around, back to Jamie. Nick touched his cheek, there was a long scratch along it, the blood was streaming from it...and then it closed, sealed like a zipper.

"Supernatural" whispered Jamie. She bared her claws as her pupils narrowed.

"Okay, easy" Nick said. "I'm not interested in a fight right now cat. I have simple desires for the time being. I want to examine the tablet. We can both walk away happier without any major organs missing."

Immediately Jamie relaxed and shrugged. "Okay, have fun with the tablet."

Nick walked over to the tablet and immediately groaned. "Ugh! Hieroglyphics, this will take all night"

"Okay, curiosity and cats don't mix—but still" sighed Jamie. She kneeled by the calendar wheel and ran her hands over the stone. "It tells of more then the average calendar. It's a piece recipe in every month. Either this makes kick ass maize sauce for poultry or..." she touched the symbols, feeling the small notches that formed other symbols. "Feathers of an Eagle...seeds of cocoa, assorted fruits and flowers, reeds and some tree roots...they make...Folly of the Winged Serpent..."

"How can you read that?"

"I studied over 20 ancient languages as a child" shrugged Jamie. "Photographic memory" she added tapping her head. "That's the truce over by the way. Next time I see you---well I'll make you a scratching post."

"You wish" Nick sneered as he took a small cylindrical camera from his belt and snapped multiple pictures of the wheel. In that space of time Jamie was already gone.

"Jamie darling!" Mrs Flinch the co-ordinator of the community centre called from across the room. "I have a favour to ask."

Jamie was still staring at the blank wall. Her paint was dried and cracked and she was still frowning. "Yes Mrs Flinch?" The woman was matronly, built like a stereotypical matron. (Which is stereotype #45). Her hair was grey-blonde and tied into a bun, she had periwinkle blue eyes and a no-nonsense manner.

"I have a problem, I have to go and see the investors today...but I scheduled both that meeting and an interview on Good Morning Gotham..." That nasty feeling welled up in Jamie's gut. "Would you go and do the interview for me?"

"No" Jamie said.

"Please? The publicity would help us immensely...please?"

Jamie sighed and nodded. "Okay"

Max had been through the best and the worst of times with Jamie. Jamie had run away at 16 with Lionel Price who was 17. That had been a mistake which was why it was only a few months before she'd hooked back up Serge and made it to Gotham only to lose him a year and a bit later.

Max tapped the screen and finished up with her image. A face of digital purple liquid that was female and like Max's but not in a way you'd understand. "Now to get out there," she said. appeared on the screen as she tapped a few more keys and the web opened up before her as she put on her VR headset and leapt into cyber space picking up police bulletins and e-mails.

"Excuse me!" Jamie said, trying to draw the attention of one of the people bustling around the set. "Sorry I---Excuse..." with a sigh she looked around and blew a tiny puff of blue smoke off her palm. Abruptly three men were helping her.

Straight into a make-up chair. Which was thankfully where she was supposed to be...until Beverly entered. "Okay we had this lovelorn woman coming in but she cancelled because she got back with her boyfriend so you're Bianca Carter right?"

"Ehhh yeah but everyone---"

"Right we'll do your segment on the community centre after the blind date... get her to wardrobe" Jamie looked around and down at her slightly torn jeans.

"Blind what! ?" she exclaimed and was whisked away.

Dressed in a black silk blouse and trousers with silver strapped high heels Jamie looked pretty incredible. She wasn't happy, however. Because she was sitting on a pink stool with a wall separating her from three other guests. It was very depressing. They'd moved up her segment and she'd talked about the centre and how it was important and Hearsay Hilda had agreed and it had been very...cosmetic and next thing she knew they were humouring her because they were West Side Dwellers and Penthouse People.

"Okay, so we've go our mystery bachelors behind the screen are ready. So Bianca - "

"Jamie" she corrected.

"Bianca" Hilda continued. She had pink highlighted hair and a matching suit with horn rimmed glasses and a voice that Jamie wanted to rip out and replace. "Are you ready to be matched up?"

"No I'm happy single"

"You don't mean that" laughed Hilda

"Yes I do" frowned Bianca as the cards were thrust into her hand. "Fine, I'll go along with this. Bachelor #1...oh sweet Martha Stewart...if I was a bagel what type of topping would you be?"

"How the hell am I supposed to answer a question like that? It's completely nonsensical" #1 said. "Gimme another one."

"Hold on I'm just looking," she said as she flicked through the cards. "Nope I got nothing" she said. "All right, which is more important? Mind or Body?"

"Mind, what's a body with nothing to drive it?"

"What he said" #2 and #3 chorused.

"Okay, #2 if I came home with a haircut you hated...what would you do?"

"I'd stay quiet and let you enjoy it"

"Number 1?"

"I'd tell you I wasn't keen on it but it's your choice how you look"

"All right, Number three I want to see a romantic movie..." Bianca smiled. "You want the latest action flick...which do we see?"

"I guess...whatever you want to see?"

"#1?"

"Go between and compromise" he replied. "Adam Heat movies, romance and action"

"#2?"

"Uhh...whatever you want to see?"

"Okay" Bianca shifted on her stool. "What is your idea of a dream date, I mean for you number three"

"I'd like to---go and see the cyber-ball, courtside seats, at a major tournament then go for drinks with a gang afterwards to celebrate"

"Number 2?"

"I'd say...ah- an opera with---a nice meal afterwards?"

"Number 1...and honestly"

"Honestly?" there was a smile in his voice. "This will sound strange but...a movie on the couch with take-away and some music." Bianca frowned in surprise. "I'm a freak I know"

"No—no that's one of the most interesting dates I've heard yet" she said softly.

"So Bianca who do you choose?" Hilda asked.

"I guess it's obvious...number one," she said. Hilda guided her over to the screen.

"Well, say hello to the man you'll be having dinner with tonight" the screen moved aside. "Nicholas St. Peter!"

They stared at each other.

Inque watched the pair of Martini drinkers. The Von Stone's had hired her to do a job and she had failed... Mrs Von Stone looked at her. "It's disappointing Inque, you're supposed to be the best" she said. "And you lost the calendar wheel! I'm so disappointed... schnookims! Huggies!"

Her Husband Max hugged her. "Oh don't worry pookie, Inque can make it up to us. She just has to kill that nasty old Alley Cat and mean old Dusk. Then she's bring us the wheel".

"I can get the wheel, but those two—whatever they are—they're strong"

"Well kill them, they're just people" snorted Mrs Von Stone (Lorraine). "And insignificant people aren't worth the time used to create them. We're trying to create a global business in crime, we don't have time for a Catwoman wannabe and some angst driven pile of moth eaten cloth."

"Fine, I'll do it" Inque said. "I'll get the wheel and kill the heroes but you have to double the 8 million" she snapped as she morphed into a liquid form.

"Done in a flash," Lorraine said without batting an eyelid.

"You really are rich" muttered Inque as she slicked away.

Lorraine snapped her fingers, her chauffeur and bodyguard appeared. "Eve, bring the car around" the woman with midnight blue hair sauntered off. "Gorgon, send some snipers to help Inque. We can't have failure."

"Oh darling you're so evil" Max said sweeping her into a tip and a kiss.

Jamie and Nick were bundled into a limo by the people from the studio. There ride was stiffly quiet and when they arrived at the restaurant they found camera's waiting to tape the date.

"You two hold hands!" Beverly the stage managers said as she forced Jamie's hand into Nicks. He looked at the hands then at her. Their eyes met, his dilated to pure blackness and hers became slit pupilled for a split second before they reset to the normal.

"So Mr St. Peter, been on the town lately?"

He shrugged. "Not really, have you Ms Carter?"

"No" she said. "Just beating around". She shut the menu. "I'll have the shrimp for starters and the duck as the main course. A glass of red wine please." The waiter nodded and turned to Nick.

"I'll have the Caesar Salad and the Steak" he said. "Medium to Medium rare, a glass of red wine. Anything from 2005 that was a good year all around...except for the Californian."

"Oh what a surprise he knows about wine" Jamie said as she ran her finger around the wine glass. It hummed gently. Nick looked her in the eye and then glanced at the cameras glaring at them from the booth across the room. He raised his fist and opened it in the direction of the cameras. There was a crackle and their speaker began to smoke.

"Interesting trick" Jamie said.

Nick leaned forwards. "Tell me feline...what makes you think you can defend the East Side? You steal yet you protect...and never have you killed."

She ran the tip of her tongue over her front teeth. "I don't need to kill" she whispered. "I humiliate and they will spread stories of how I defeated them...and I will reap the rewards with less fighting"

"Your powers are interesting" he added. "Love spells, kisses of death, agility, strength and speed...how did you come to possess them?"

"What did you do to the camera crews microphone?" she enquired back as she sipped her water. He smirked.

"They're find a screw popped...I have the ability to control darkness" he said.

"I died, I was revived as the Cat," she said. She pulled away as the waiter put their orders out. "And your secret origin bumper edition comic book special? What is it?"

"You know of Faust" Nick seemed to ease back slightly. "The man who sold his soul for knowledge and riches. And Dorian Grey who sold his soul to become immortal"

"Pacts with the devil?" Jamie ate a shrimp and watched his eyes.

"Not really. My father made one and in a loophole I was born different, both my brother and I...he is probably the one who paid for the Blind Date surprise with his allowance". He looked at the waiter as the wine was delivered.

"How much does he get?"

"A six digit figure a week" Nick replied. "Most people think that a lot of money... I envy them. I'll never be anything but rich..."

"And that depresses you?" Jamie said in awe. A shrimp was visible on her lip, she sucked it into her mouth in a sultry manner.

"What good is money when you have no one who can see past it?" he shrugged and sipped his wine. "I'm alone, I have David, but he's my brother, a pain, but still my brother. And he is free from needing to do penance for our blood sins"

Jamie looked at him. "You kill"

"I kill criminals" he said.

"Yours is not the place to decide who lives and who dies" she said. "When I look at you I see someone else in the background, a scared little boy who hates killing. If that part of you hates it...why do it?"

"Because I must" Nick said. "I cut off the head of evil"

"And three more take its place" she snapped back.

Before they could continue a water tower collapsed on a building. Inque slicked along the metal bars and hacked a gap in it, sending the water splashing down on the people on the street below... "What is she doing?" Nick asked.

"Looking for us" Jamie replied. "Perhaps a truce? To get rid of her?"

Nick pursed his lips. "All right."

They used the confusion to escape to the bathrooms to change. Inque was attacking randomly, Batman and Robin were occupied across town and she was near the East End so no one really gave a damn.

"Come on heroes" she sneered. "Come and stop me"

A jack-o-lantern shaped device hit the ledge she was on and blew her off it. She splattered to the pavement below. Carried by the shadows Dusk descended, Alley Cat held in his arms.

"I like the way you get around" Alley Cat said.

"It's better then the bus" he admitted. Inque reared up taking a hooded cobra like shape. "And we have begun" he muttered. Inque slammed him aside.

Jamie back flipped away swiftly, avoiding the stabs of the black liquid spikes. "What's wrong Inque? Did you forget to but some Q-tips for energy?" Inque roared and sliced out at her. Jamie's arm gained a slash on it, it wasn't deep but blood began to slick her sleeve swiftly.

"Great, now I have to stitch it" Jamie sneered. Nick's flying kick splattered Inque's face out of shape. Jamie sliced a limb off but a stream of liquid knocked her away like a doll. "She keeps regrowing and reforming!" she shouted.

"Oh I hadn't noticed" Nick shouted sarcastically as Inque's chest trapped him in tendrils and lifted him high up over the street. He pulled a long machete with a serrated blade from his thigh holster and hurled it at Inque. It went straight through her chest and stuck fast.

"Try again" she laughed as she slammed him off a wall.

Max touched her ear as the data was streamed into her senses. The news flash was about Inque. Max looked around the Arcade and ran to the bathrooms. She locked herself in a stall and removed the VR shades from her pocket.

"Here goes" she muttered and tapped the keys.

The credit machine's screen bleeped. The voice was distorted but feminine it caught Jamie's ears as she leapt away from a slash. "Feline! Cat! Alley Cat!" called the voice. Jamie glanced at the credit machine.

"Are you talking to me?"

"Yes, I am the Oracle a cyber freedom fighter...I saw the fight. Inque's major weaknesses are Ice, Water and Electricity" the Oracle said. "There's plenty of Water and Electricity on that street"

"Who exactly are you?"

"A friend" was the reply. "Trust me"

"Big favour" Jamie said. She looked at Inque as she slashed at Nick. "But Okay"

"The water mains are connected still to the old hydrants, I can start a flow to them and you can open them" the Oracle said.

Jamie nodded and pulled out her fans, snapping them open. "Just hydrate me Oracle"

Nick crashed into a lamppost. "Fire hydrants" whispered Jamie. "Either side of the road, we can get her, split up"

"Are you sure there's a water flow to them?" Nick asked.

"Trust me" Oracle said from the bank machine.

"That ATM just told me to trust it" Nick muttered.

"Yeah me too, we'll start a club" Jamie said. They darted off in separate directions. Inque was caught unawares. She stretched out in both directions, Nick vaulted her limbs and hurled a batwing knife into the hydrant. The stream of water hit Inque, she screamed as she was diluted. Jamie slicked her fans down and a burst of water hit the other side of Inque, she was forced to one side, her body dribbling away.

"No! NOT AGAIN!" she screamed.

Police car sirens boomed in the distance. "Time to leave" Alley Cat said. "The officers need an ego boost". She vaulted upwards and lashed her whip to a flagpole. Scampering across the roof she scaled the side followed by Dusk. They looked down at the scene. Commissioner Gordon looked up at them.

"Did she just nod at us?" asked Jamie. "In a respectful kind of way? The Commissioner? At us?"

"Come on" Nick said. "I'll drop you home..."

"—Overpowering Inque and driving her into the waiting hands of the GCPD" the TV exploded. Lorraine looked at Max.

"Darling, that was a perfectly good TV"

They were in their crimson and gold mansion outside Gotham. "I am tired of things getting knocked off schedule pookie" he replied. "We want power and this is in our way!"

"But cookie!" she said. "We're ready for them from now on!"

"Of course darling sweetums" he said. "What do you have in mind?"

She kissed him. "Oh you'll see...it's arriving by airmail tonight...to get the two of them to bother someone else for a change".

"I love it when you're evil" he said.

"It's why you married me" she cooed.

TBC

We pick off where we left off next chapter. When something nasty arrives in the East End. Plus Nick and Jamie agree to work together and the Oracle does more for the city. AND in true Catwoman nature, Jamie commits crimes for the benefit of the East End...

Just review.

I'll write a better chapter, this was kind of rushed and I'm ever so sorry for it gov'ner