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DC Infinity Presents

Batgirl # 13

Salvation Run

"The Hunted."

Part 2

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Gotham City

When Tatsu Yamashiro took the time to reflect on her life, she always reflected on how a career in heroics that began to vengeance for her slain family led to the creation of a new one. Unlike some of her younger contemporaries, she didn't consider her teammates family. While Black Lightning, Geoforce, Metamorpho were all dear friends that she trusted with her life, they were not family in Tatsu's heart.

But Gabrielle Doe, a young woman with no past, became a second daughter to Tatsu. By the time Tatsu got around to legally adopted her, they'd been family for years. And it was her time in the Outsiders that convinced Batman that Tatsu should be Cassandra's guardian. Ironically, a path that began in blood and vengeance ultimately came full circle, returning Tatsu to where she always wanted to be, with family.

And though few knew it, there was a third young woman that Tatsu was responsible for, but ultimately never that close to. Her name was Wendy Jones, and went by the codename Windfall. She first met Katana and the rest of the Outsiders as an enemy, part of the villain group known as the Masters of Disaster. However, it was obvious to everyone though, that Wendy wasn't a villain at heart. In battle she lacked an aggressive edge, following the orders of her abusive sister and even spared Halo's life. Her eventual defection to the Outsiders came as a surprise to no one, looking back.

Like Halo, Windfall was a lost young woman with no place to call home after rebelling against the older sister who forced her into villainy and for a time, she had come to live with Tatsu.

But unlike Halo, Wendy was too timid, too shy to reach out to Tatsu emotionally. In private, she did everything to remain out of sight and out of the way. A lifetime of being browbeaten by her homicidal sister left Wendy so grateful to anyone who thought kindly of her that she would ask or take nothing in return. The last time the two spoke, Tatsu had spent two hours over dinner gently convincing Wendy to accept a full college scholarship from Bruce Wayne. The girl had it in her head that a multi-billionaire like Bruce Wayne shouldn't be spending money on a girl like her, a thought that utterly baffled Tatsu.

So it went without saying that Tatsu was completely dumbstruck when Windfall came down from the sky, surrounded by gale force winds and actually threatening her like some maniac.

"Wendy, what on earth are you talking about?" Tatsu brought her arm up to shield her face from the roaring winds that Windfall was throwing around, "why are you here, what's wrong?!"

"Don't act like you don't know!" Windfall grabbed Tatsu by the collar, and a burst of nearly solid air shot them both into the air like a catapult. Tatsu grabbed the young woman's wrists, slightly concerned. She'd flown with Windfall before, and the girl was far smoother then compared to now.

The two former Outsiders came down rough on the gravel of a nearby building.

"Just what is the meaning of this!" Tatsu smacked Wendy's hand away, and had to restrain herself from beating the girl within an inch of her life. Windfall looked ashamed fopr a moment, but that was soon replaced by a wild look of anger.

"Batman!" Windfall spat, "he's been hounding me since…since…"

Windfall staggered backwards, and for a moment Tatsu was afraid the girl might well stumble off the roof. Windfall steadied herself, but not before the older woman saw just how tired, how exhausted the girl was both physically and mentally. There was deep lines under her blood shot eyes, Wendy's normally curly hair was greasy and matted while her costume was ragged and torn in odd places. She looked more like a survivor from a disaster movie than a once heroine.

Seeing that, Tatsu set aside her not inconsiderable anger. Her instincts were telling her that something was gravely wrong here, something that made Windfall's little kidnapping seem trivial in comparison.

"Wendy, that's going on?" Tatsu asked gently, "I haven't heard from you in nearly a year and when I do, you act like a blasted lunatic! I want an explanation, or so help me…!"

"I…" Wendy cast her eye downwards, looking past the rooftop, "I screwed up, oh God…Tatsu, I swear I didn't mean to do…"

Tatsu heard the flap of a cape, but didn't have a second to react before Batgirl landed in-between her and Windfall.

"Stand down," Batgirl ordered, a flash grenade in her left hand, "and back away. Now."

"No…no!"

Windfall shot into the air like a bullet, kicking up a cloud of dust that engulfed the rooftop in her wake.

"…damn it," Tatsu coughed, and tried to wave the dust out of the air, "you should have let me talk to her, Cassandra! There was no need to…!"

"It was too dangerous," Batgirl interrupted smoothly as she replaced the grenade, "she was too unstable…and the situation…was about to change."

Before Tatsu could ask her ward to clarify, she heard the sound of screeching tires, and of orders being shouted.

"Government men," Batgirl stated flatly, "they are after her…but tracking us too. Here too fast."

"They were likely tracking my credit cards," Tatsu replied, "damn it. I can explain my way out of this, but it will take time. While I do that, you have to find Windfall."

"Here," Batgirl reached into her utility belt and pulled out…lipstick?

"Transmitter," Batgirl explained evenly, "government man…will explain his side. I…need to hear."

"Understood. If they ask, I'll say that Wendy flew off when I refused to help her. We shouldn't be seen together, if it can be avoided," Tatsu took the device and slipped it in her pocket and sighed "and I was hoping to have an un-eventual evening too."

Tatsu made her way down from the roof, and the moment she stepped onto the street, men in suits spotted her almost instantly and waved her down.

"Mrs. Yamashiro, Mrs. Yamashiro, are you alright?" yelled the closest agent

They know who I am, Tatsu noted mentally. While it was suspicious, Tatsu also knew that it didn't automatically imply foul play. "I'm fine, thank you. Could you tell what's going on? Why did Wendy just come after me?"

"Of course. Please, follow us, ma'am. We'll explain everything in a moment."

'We'll explain everything in a moment', Tatsu had long since learned, was unofficial code for we have orders to bring you to our superior.

There were a good half dozen cars gathered around the front of the restaurant and at the center was a large van that Tatsu suspected their superior officer was stationed, directing this mob of government agents.

Sure enough, the two led her to the rear of the van, knocked twice, and left. A moment later, the van doors opened, and a tall, well-built blond haired man in an off the rack suit stepped out.

Though he was built like a brick house, Tatsu's first impression of the man was unimpressed. His smile was too forced, he didn't bother to hide his familiarity and she had seen that smug grin too many times before, usually on the faces of people who intended harm to someone.

"Ms. Yamashiro, I'm sorry to we had to meet under these circumstances…"

"Mrs.," Tatsu corrected.

"Mrs. Yamashiro, my apologies," the man corrected himself, "My name is Anthony Kastle, I'm an agent with the Department of Extranormal Operations, or D.E.O for short."

"Why have you been hounding Wendy?" Tatsu had no patience for small talk, and knew that these men arrived far too quickly for them to have been doing anything other than laying in wait.

"May I first ask your relationship with Wendy Jones, AKA Windfall?"

"As I'm certain you already know, I'm a volunteer foster parent for troubled extra normal youths," Tatsu explained evenly, every word a lie. It was a cover carefully crafted by Batman years ago, "most people are afraid to take in youngsters associated in any way with meta-humans. I'm not one of them. Now, again, tell me why are you hounding Wendy?"

"When was the last time you spoke to Ms. Jones?" Kastle asked.

"It's been at least a year since I spoke to Wendy," Tatsu answered, "she's not very good at reaching out or communicating, unfortunately."

"Well, there was an incident at her college. According to the local police, she killed several members of a fraternity," Kastle explained, "she's been on the run ever since. We've received several tips regarding her location, but she's managed to evade us. Her powers make her rather slippery."

"Incident?" Tatsu felt a shiver shoot down her spine from the way Kastle glossed over it. It was too smooth, too practiced, "what 'incident' are you referring to?"

"She accused members of a Fraternity of sexual assault during a party. The local DA investigated and found that the accusations were completely baseless," Kastle answered, barely concealing his contempt and disbelief, "so Wendy decided to take justice into her own hands. She used her powers to suffocate several members, and we've been chasing her ever since."

Batgirl was watching the exchange from high above, and for a moment thought she might have to swoop down and save Agent Kastle from Tatsu. Her guardian was absolutely livid, and cold hard logic was all that held back battle tested instincts that ached for violence.

"If she accused someone of rape, then there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that it happened," Tatsu growled, "and if you think that she killed anyone, you should put that badge down right now, before you hurt anyone else."

Agent Kastle gritted his teeth, "She's a former villain…"

"…emphasize on former. And she reformed with all past charges dropped."

"…and we have a half dozen bodies in the morgue that dispute the idea that she's not a killer!" Kastle countered, "unless you have some special knowledge about her you would care to share?"

"I do, I know her but you don't care about that now that you can no longer use it against her," Tatsu waved her hand dismissively, "I cannot help you, Agent Kastle, nor would I if it was within my ability. I can only hope that this witch hunt you're so intent on burns only you, and not Wendy."

Tatsu spun on her heel, but Agent Kastle grabbed her shoulder before she could leave.

"Now see here, if you think I'm going to let you wander off and help her, you got another…aiie!"

Agent Kastle didn't see it happen, but he definitely felt it when Tatsu grabbed his hand, ducked underneath his elbow and twisted, hard.

The half dozen agents watching pulled out their fire-arms and leveled them at Tatsu, but she didn't so much as acknowledge them with a glance.

"I know that you've been passively following me, Agent Kastle. My house is already being watched and you are following my credit card. So I clearly cannot render any aid," Tatsu released the DEO agent, "I also know that as long as I am not conspiring with a meta-human, DEO has no jurisdiction to arrest me. So save us some time and take your humiliation like a man."

Agent Kastle bared his teeth in a snarl as he rubbed his sore wrist, "With a word, I could get you thrown in jail for assaulting a federal officer!"

"Please do," Tatsu taunted, a genuine smile on her face, "I'm close with Bruce Wayne. With one phone call, I can have his entire empire backing me, and they would take you apart by the end of the week."

Kastle holstered his gun, "I don't have time for you, so get out of here while I'm still feeling merciful. I've got a bitch hunt to finish, and so help me, if you get in my way I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your skull."

"And if I see you again, it will be very unpleasant for you," Tatsu warned.

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Tatsu flipped open her cell phone and dialing a special number only seconds after she pulled out of the restaurant parking lot.

"We're here," Oracle answered, "Batgirl called me in before you started talking to that DEO scum bag."

"Then can you tell me what really happened to Wendy?" asked Tatsu.

"Not much," Oracle answered, "I'm just starting to search the local papers and the local DA is slow on getting their records on computer. All can do know for certain is that Wendy was expelling for 'behavior unbecoming of a student' shortly after she filed her complaint."

Tatsu gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were turning white.

"There's something else odd," Oracle continued, "according to their case file, the police and DEO received a total of six tips about Wendy's location."

"Someone was running her down," Batgirl stated. She was across town, swinging across Gotham, "could they be…using her as bait?"

"Unlikely," Oracle answered, "Tatsu's identity is above the agent in charge's security clearance. I'm looking at the case file now, and reading between the lines, I can see that he's called in a few markers."

Batgirl and Oracle could almost hear Tatsu's teeth grinding.

"Oracle, I need the closest safe-house. I assume that there is equipment there for me?"

"There is."

"After that, I'm going to need access to the JLA teleporter systems," Tatsu said, "I'm going to investigate what happened personally. Cassandra, I need you to find Wendy and keep her out of Kastle's hands. Guilty or not, under no condition can we allow that man to get his hands on her. I don't trust him. Understood?"

"Understood," Batgirl replied, "Oracle, they were passively…observing us. House…end of the block. Only place for them to be at. Have Nightwing…compromise them. And have him be ready."

"Will do. Be careful out there, Cass."

"Am always."

Batgirl terminated the signal, and took a moment to reflect on what had just happened. Cassandra knew from the beginning that Batman held Tatsu in high regard and though Cassandra felt…strongly about her, she wondered how Batman had come to the same conclusion.

But now, steeling and hearing the steel in her voice, Batgirl knew why. Wendy meant a little something to Tatsu, and Cassandra knew without question that she meant more. That someone cared so passionately about her well-being in such a unique fashion, made Cassandra feel warm in an unfamiliar fashion.

Batgirl then brushed the sentimentality aside. There was a job to do, prey to find and other hunters already in the field.

Batgirl stood in the exact location that Windfall took off from and looked long and hard at the direction she'd taken. From what she saw, Windfall was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. She'd need a place to rest, undisturbed, and soon. The Daughter of Cain estimated that Windfall had a range of only a mile, a mile and a half at most in her condition.

And if there was one thing Gotham didn't lack, it was rabbit holes for those evading the police.

But in Gotham, Batgirl defined apex predator.

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Forty Five minutes later.

Wendy Jones felt a weight on the aged, dirty mattress she'd fallen asleep on, and the moment the implications struck her brain, she shot up like a bullet.

Batgirl was ready for her though, and smoothly slipped a thin, metal wire around Windfall's neck. By the time Windfall realized that Batgirl had been standing at the head of the bed, it was already too late.

"I don't intend to let go," Batgirl said flatly. She pulled the wire taut for a second to emphasize the threat, "so no powers…understand?"

"…yes," Wendy swallowed hard, "how…did you find me?"

"No one breaks into a…window…this high up," explained Batgirl. Wendy glanced at the glass of the window she's scattered and kicked herself mentally.

"You…you work with Batman, right?" Wendy knew the question

"Yes."

"Then tell me why is he hounding me like this?!" Derbris, dust and scattered trash as Wendy felt a rage that had been coursing through her for weeks slip free, "I've seen him, seen him hiding across the street, behind some damn corner, always after me! He's tipped the police off to me at least six times already!"

Batgirl gave Wendy a curious look, "Did you actually see him?"

"What, no of course not! I mean, not directly," Wendy rubbed her sore eyes, wiping away tears, "but I saw him, in the shadows like always! No one can forget those damn ears!"

"That's not Batman's way," Batgirl countered, "yes, he scares people. But…he's never cruel."

"I know what I saw!"

"And I know him. Personally. If he wanted you in prison…you'd be there already." Batgirl explained simply, "why would he stalk you? Why…let you see? Think…what does he gain?"

"I…" Windfall couldn't believe that never occurred to her. Compared to other Outsiders, Windfall's contact with the Dark Knight had been short, but that brief association was more than enough to teach her who was superior. And if he wasn't scared to face her in battle, what other reason could he have for shadowing her?

"Now we talk…" Batgirl released of the wire and gently removed it from Windfall's neck. She then sat down on the edge of the bed, and invited Wendy to do the same, "I want to…hear what happened. From you."

"I…I was stupid," Wendy swallowed hard, "a bunch of guy, bunch of pricks who never even looked my way before they learned that I used to be a hero, they invited me to a party. I went…one of them handed me a drink…and…"

Windfall choked for a moment. The vague, hazy memories of that night were like a railroad spike in her heart.

"I…began to feel tired…one guy, he offered…he offered me a place to lie down, and…"

Batgirl placed her hand on Windfall's shoulder and squeezed gently.

"…when I woke up the next day, they…they said that they took photos and would post them, if I went to the cops," Windfall swallowed, her throat dry as a bone, "they even took my clothes…had to…had to fly home naked. Never been so humiliated…!"

Windfall put her hands in her face, and her entire body shook, "I …I went to the cops anyways. They…they barely gave me the time of day. One of those bastards that raped me was the DA's son! They said I was lying! And by the time I got back to my dorm, they'd expelled me! That same day! For 'past association with criminals', but they knew that when I was admitted! They knew, I know they did!"

"Windfall…I need to ask…"

"Did I kill them?" Wendy looked at Batgirl through tear stained eyes, "I did. I went to the fraternity house, I was so angry…the way they laughed at me, and I must have sucked the air out, or poisoned it or something! I was just so mad, I didn't know what I was doing!"

"You're wrong," Batgirl said sternly.

"…what?" Windfall wiped away a faceful of tears.

"You didn't kill them," Batgirl said with finality, as if she were talking about the color of the sky, "you can't see it…but I can."

"How can you be so…"

The sound of rotor blades drowned out Wendy's sentence, and the whole room began to shake.

"Don't move," Batgirl ordered, simply as a precaution. She had grown accustomed to the nightly fly-overs of the Gotham PD, and thought little of the helicopters. Even this close, they didn't register in her mind as a threat. As far as Batgirl knew, the DEO was searching for Windfall by foot or car, not air.

"They're coming for me, aren't they?!" Wendy dashed to the window and yanked the curtain aside, terrified of what she might find but unable to live with the uncertainly. She hadn't had a full night's sleep in weeks, and it played havoc with her mind.

Unfortunately, Windfall's paranoia was well founded. She looked out the window to see a helicopter hovering there, and a Special Forces sniper armed with a modified Heckler PSG1 aimed directly at her. Wendy barely made it two steps back before the man pulled the trigger.

Batgirl dove for Windfall the moment she saw the helicopter, but not even she was faster than a rifle. Glass shattered seconds before Batgirl tackled Wendy to the ground.

"My chest…"Wendy gasped. Batgirl looked, and saw three long darts embedded in Windfall's chest. She quickly plucked them out, but suspected she was already too late, "it feels like acid, get it out, get it out!"

Outside, DEO sniper Peter Cullen set down his rifle and grabbed the radio, "Payload delivered. You may now insert for retrieval."

Cullen watched as the DEO commandos repelled down from the roof of the old tenement to the window that he'd shot out. He vaguely wondered why this C-lister had brought so much trouble down upon herself, but ultimately didn't care. He saw several trained commandos burst through the windows, and knew the operation would be over in minutes, the definition of an smooth mission.

Because his helicopter pulled away and was heading towards a nearby army base, Peter never saw that the ropes used by the Special Forces never went slack, as if the commandos were never able to disengage them. He was never in a position to learn that their radios went dead within seconds of insertion.

It would be days later, when visiting several friends in the hospital, that Peter would learn just how very wrong he had been.

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Elsewhere

Katana, like most people, never cared for morgues. They were cold, sterile places that held only pain and loss. Any attempts to avoid that fact were tasteless, as were any attempts to hide it. To her, they were nothing more than necessary blights.

Dressed in her full yellow and red costume that she hadn't donned in more than a year and with her trademark weapon strapped to her back (a very deadly replicate of her old sword, the Soultaker), Katana pushed through the double doors of the morgue as if she had every right to be there. She had the skill for stealth, but at the moment she just didn't have the stomach. Tatsu wanted information and she wanted it now.

The attendants and Medical Examiner turned to look at her, and then took a step back.

"I'm here as part of a Justice League investigation," Tatsu said smoothly. It was only a half lie, as she was here acting as an agent of Oracle who in turn was once a member of the Justice League, "I need to see your files regarding the Windfall case, please. Now."

"Uhh…I…one sec, please," stammered an attendant.

Tatsu waited patiently, and drummed her fingers on the camera Oracle had her take. It was specially designed to upload directly into Oracle's computers, and she would in turn send it to the Justice Society's Brownstone, where Dr. Midnite was waiting.

Katana just hoped that they could remedy this situation before things got too far out of hand.

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"I…can't breathe!" Wendy rasped.

Batgirl placed a pillow under Wendy's head, and examined the dart. The design was fairly basic, but the metal was cold to the touch, smelled of tin foil and there wasn't a drop of liquid to be seen.

"Oracle, I have a situation," Batgirl radioed, "Windfall has been…struck with a dart. Metallic scent, silver liquid. Purpose unknown."

"It's a nanite power inhibitor," Oracle replied, "according to what I've researched, it'll shut down most of Windfall's voluntary motor functions when she uses her powers. They're still experimental and completely illegal, damn it! What the hell does the DEO think they're doing?"

"Gaining pawn," Batgirl answered, "something bigger is happening here. Don't know what. Keep me informed."

"Will do. Watch yourself Cass, this is looking like it's going to get nasty."

"We have to move, now," Batgirl said to Wendy, "you can't use…your powers. Too dangerous."

"No problem, I can barely walk," Wendy moaned.

"I can help," Batgirl pulled Wendy to her feet and draped her arm over her elbow, "don't need to go far. Just need a better position…to defend from. Wait until you can move…then leave."

Wendy glanced at the windows that were clogged with unconscious commandos.

"Yeah, I see your point."

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DEO Agent Kastle's feet hit pavement the second his car came to a stop, and when he saw his hand-picked DEO agents loitering, talking amongst themselves. In his anger, Kastle easily mixed the looks of fear and concern on their faces.

"Why the hell are you guys standing around with your thumbs up your asses?" Kastle demanded, "why isn't the bitch secured yet?"

"The strike-team we sent in haven't reported in," answered David Andrew, Kastle's second in command, "plus, there's a wrinkle."

"Oh?"

"Windfall's old friends have become involved."

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Batgirl and Windfall stepped out into the hall, glanced down the hall and froze.

Standing not ten feet away were three costumed individuals. Two females, one male. One woman was sheathed in flames, while the male was dressed in a dark blue costume stylized with icicles. The second woman was devoid of a costume, made entirely of water in a shape that resembled human proportions.

The woman of water lacked every possible tell that enabled Batgirl to read body language, yet everything told the Daughter of Cain that this woman was a cold killer.

"Oh hello, Batgirl. I'm New Wave," said the woman of water, "and these are my teammates, the Masters of Disaster. We're having a little family reunion and I'm so sorry, but you're not on the list. But get in my way, and you'll be on the menu."

Next Issue: It's Batgirl vs. the Masters of Disaster for the sake of Windfall, but which side will Wendy choose?