Avenging Justice 2:

Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday

Part XXIII

Earth, New York, New York City

Catwoman landed silently, Black Cat beside her barely made a sound either. Selina still thought the white fur, boots and gloves were a bit much though. She quickly wrapped her whip up and secured it. The launch line that Black Cat looked useful, and she made a note to look at getting something like that for her own needs.

Diamond claws unsheathed and she slowly cut open the glass. She knew there were more traps, more security beyond just a locked glass door. The EMP pulse bomb she just triggered in her other hand was resetting most electronics, including this state-of-the-art security system. The next few steps were more difficult, because the Kingpin wasn't known as being a fool with his security.

Black Cat had to admire the woman working, she was very skilled. Still, she couldn't help this feeling in the pit of her stomach, that his was all a big mistake. Not at getting even with the powerful crime boss, but he regularly took on the likes of Spider-Man and Daredevil. They weren't exactly small fries, you had to get to people like Thor and Superman, before finding tougher.

Catwoman slipped open the door and stealthily entered the room. Hitting the side of her mask, lenses dropped down to illuminate the dark. She also saw the lasers running around the floor, another layer of security. Nimbly she walked past them, and found the switch that cut them off. Next to it was a dimmer switch, and she ever so slightly turned up the lights to barely illuminating the room. She hit the lenses, returning her regular vision.

"Check that wall, look for any hidden panels," Catwoman said to the other thief.

Taking out a small USB device, she put it into the computer she saw at the oversized desk, in the most prominent position. A little toy she had borrowed from Batman, though as she thought about it, he had given it to her, but never asked for it back. She didn't know if she wanted to grin or growl at that thought, he had let her keep it, and she hadn't even thought about it.

Black Cat rolled her eyes, "Yes, Mom. I do know how to do my job, there is a reason why those bumbling Gotham idiots thought I was you."

"That is actually quite insulting," Catwoman shot back.

Black Cat looked confused, "You're upset for the cops?"

"No, that anyone would confuse me with you," she replied. "You're at most you're borrowing off my brand, at worst a copycat."

Black Cat shook her head, "Really, a pun?"

Selina wasn't paying attention at that point, she found what she had been searching for. There, just barely noticeable, was an offset portion. Using one of her diamond claws, she pulled it open, and a large safe was revealed. Just then the USB drive pinged, and now she had to be in two places at once.

"See if you can open the safe," she quietly said to Black Cat, as she went over to the computer.

Turning on the monitor, she saw the computer was up, and she had access to its files. A mental note was made to a certain Dark Knight's gadget maker, this one was proving most useful. She still no idea what she was looking for, and there appeared to be many things, and even more irritating, password protected. The Kingpin's reputation was definitely not without some basis.

Black Cat's voice was almost purring with delight, "I see rolls of cash, multiple bundles for any country across the globe. There are some diamonds, other assorted gems, and gold bars. I think I even see a necklace that could fetch a small country's GDP. There are a few vials something in here, but not sure what they are."

"We may come back for those if time allows," Catwoman said. "Right now, the computer system is being…complicated."

Thinking Catwoman wouldn't notice, Black Cat started to pocket some of the jewels. They were so pretty, and would definitely bring a good price. Of course, if Spider-Man were here, he'd be giving her a lecture on using her powers responsibly. What bigger responsibility did she have, then making sure she was well off? She smiled at that thought.

However, Catwoman had something else to keep her attention. A popup came onto the computer screen. Hello, access to the full archives is locked, connection to private service established. Do you wish to commence with offsite back up and purge of local network? That was an unexpected, but welcomed revelation.

"While I'm a big fan of strays, I do believe I prefer dogs over cats," came the unmistakably voice of Kingpin. "See, once you train a dog, it is loyal. Cats, they have their own minds, and well, get into things."

Black Cat, visibly tried to meld into the wall where the safe was at, while Catwoman undid the latch holding her whip in place. They hadn't heard him come in, which was amazing for a man his size. Still, if he expected her to be caught off balance, or start to freak out, he had a thing to learn. She'd been surprised by the best, and frankly, he was more terrifying than the Kingpin.

"Now little cat, put those shinies back, or they'll find you in the East River," Kingpin said in such a calm tone, that belied the threat in it. "As for you, you're a little far from home, aren't you?"

Catwoman gave him a brilliant teethy smile, "Well everyone here can't shut up about visiting, so had to come to see myself. I like where it copies Gotham in some areas, and Metropolis in others. Not a bad little city."

Kingpin came further into the room, behind him six people, all stony faced and business like. Dressed in suits, but things were off. One, the suits were straining against bulging muscles on the guys, and looked like they didn't fit the women. As well, each one wore boots instead of the leather business shoes common amongst Wall Street raiders.

"Your flippancy in such a situation is either a very admirable trait, or a suicidal form of coping," Kingpin said. "Now, the way I see it, we have two ways this can end. One way is beneficial for all, the other, messy."

On the screen, Catwoman saw another message pop up. I alerted a friend nearby, back up should be arriving soon. Shall we commence with the deletion of sensitive information? So, whatever or whomever was sending the messages wasn't a program. If they were, it was a very good program. Either way, it looked she had an ace up her sleeve.

Catwoman leaned against his desk, letting the Kingpin's mind do what most men's mind would do. Her attire was for ease of entry, and to blend into the shadows, but it had an alternate effect. There were some men that could lose their focus, when around a beautiful woman. Kingpin, though, appeared to have more control than that.

"Those tricks may work in Gotham, but I'm the boss in New York. Even the mayor calls me before making any decisions," Kingpin slowly said. "Now, the way I see it, do a few jobs for me, get me things I may need, and I can overlook this little excursion. My security chief will pay, though."

Catwoman shrugged, "How about this, you let us go, and keep all your records, minus one of course. See, you're right, cats are meant to be free, and my copy here deserves freedom from you."

"Your choice," Kingpin signaled to the six people behind him. "I want them alive, I'll personally deal with them in due time. Everyone heels to the me sooner or later."

Black Cat jumped, as one of the hired muscle obliterated the wall she was near. She barely got out of the way as another fired a blast of flame at her. Reacting, she shot out her wrist grapple line, and took that one out, just as another came at her. Leaping up, she bounced off the nearly ruined wall, and wrapped the line around her third attacker.

Meanwhile Catwoman had her whip out. She flicked it, and made her first attacker rethink his attack strategy. Her second attack with her whip, harmlessly snapped on the second attacker that came after her. However, she fell as Catwoman activated the taser function on her weapon. The third came at her all brawn, no brains. Arching back, the third attacker's punch went over her, and her reinforced boots connected just fine with his chin.

She came back up as a gun went off, and she went for the ground, pain flaring up in her arm. Catwoman rolled, and sent her whip out towards the sound of the gunshot. Her mark was true, but amazingly the Kingpin caught her whip. Wrapping it around his arm, he jerked her towards him. It was all she could do to get out of the way as his attack glanced off her ribs. It still hurt like hell, to be fair.

He kicked her, and Catwoman went rolling across the floor. Now she was really rethinking her leaving the other suit at home, the armored one Batman had given her. Still, she wasn't out yet. She preferred to never get to this point, but sometimes things went against the plan. She also had her ace.

"Voice activate, start deletion!" she screamed as she took down one of the goons coming after her.

As she did, she felt tremendously cold, and could see ice starting to form on her clothing. Launching away, she felt her hair stand on end, as one of the others shot out a blast of electricity at her. The woman she'd shocked was on her though, and with her recent injuries, Catwoman didn't get a chance to dodge all the blows.

"Server transfer and information deletion in two hundred forty seconds," a voice came from Kingpin's computer.

He briefly turned his attention away from the two women, and went over to his keyboard. None of the commands he was putting was stopping whatever the thieves had done. How badly this would hurt his empire, that was a question he wasn't sure he wanted the answer to. Quickly he sent a message out and his on call hacker was now trying to fight whomever was attacking his system.

"Deletion in two hundred thirty..make that two hundred thirty five seconds," the voice from the computer said. "Your hacker is good, but not that good."

Kingpin nearly erupted in anger, but held his emotions in check. That was tested ever further as a familiar red figure landed in his ruined office, and aided the Black Cat in taking out one of her attackers. Daredevil had arrived don the scene, and this wasn't something he needed right now. The protector of Hells Kitchen was obstinate enough on good days, much less on days like this one.

Now that things were in motion, the die was cast. Black Cat wasn't feeling anxious or indecisive. She had come here to get out from under Kingpin's thumb, and now she was fighting like a caged tiger. She slammed one of her attackers into the ruined wall, as the red clad Daredevil was dealing with another goon. She made sure this one wasn't getting back up for quite some time, and barely held back the last attacker on her.

"Sixty seconds to complete deletion," the computer called out again.

Kingpin punched his desk, splintering the wood paneling across, as well as up and down. His hacker was giving him excuses, except he knew there was some truth to the matter. He had his files sectioned off, requiring onsite access. However, the backups he stored across the internet, in those places people just wouldn't look, they were being attacked to. Whomever this other hacker was, they were good, but his hacker had told him he was the best. Obviously, it was time to find someone else, someone who could protect his information from this.

Technically he could use the paper backups, but there were dangers with that. Even with keeping them in the temperature-controlled banks down south, and overseas, if anyone gained entry to his facilities, they'd have proof. So, he made a business decision at that moment. He had to give the women their due, they had made sure any victory of his, would be very costly.

"Stop!" Kingpin commanded.

Immediately the goons fell back, with those unable, laying in puddles of their own drool and blood. He straightened his jacket over his massive frame, and his tie for good measure. While the ladies did have him good, there was no need to cede any more power to them. He had made himself, forged his empire by pure will alone, so he could control the situation for a few more moments.

"Get your hacker to stop now, and I will clear everything Black Cat owes me," he said.

Catwoman grimaced, but said, "Temporarily halt deletion. If I don't give the command in ten seconds, continue." Then directed at Kingpin, "You will also forgo any retaliation against her or me. No accidents, nor will you send anyone after us. This is a clean break. She doesn't owe you anything, and we won't got to authorities, the Avengers or the Justice League, deal?"

"Sure, my word is my bond," Kingpin smiled, one that showed he had no intention of keeping any of those promises.

However, Catwoman immediately put an icy knife into his gut, "As insurance, I've already had certain files transferred to multiple places around the internet. If anything happens to us, they will be released to interested parties, ones that would make sure to end you."

"Very well, one thief, even a special as she is, isn't worth this," he said. "However, if any of you come after me, steal from me, and I'll make you plead for your death."

Catwoman nodded, "Agreed." Then to the computer, "Reverse deletion, and eject."

"Very well, came the reply," and Catwoman retrieved the USB drive. She was definitely hanging onto this.

In Kingpin's ear, his hacker claimed victory, they had only lost one millionth of the data on the local drive. That would be easy enough to retrieve with the offsite backups and would be done within the hour. Within the hour, his hacker would learn what it was to disappoint him. In the meantime both thieves left, and Kingpin was controlling his anger, the audacity of them to come here and do this to him.

He could appreciate the directness, but he normally liked to be on the side with the odds stacked with him, not against. This was something he wouldn't forget, something he wouldn't let stand. He'd honor his bargain, but there were other ways of repaying slights. It may take time, but that was another thing he learned on his way up, to bide his time.

"You can leave now, Devil," Kingpin growled at Daredevil. "It would be a pity for New York's finest to find you here."

Daredevil put his batons back into their holsters, "We're not done, Fisk. You're going down, one way or another." He leapt off into the air, leaving Kingpin and his goons behind.

Miles away in the Batcave, a message appeared on the Batcomputer, where Batman was working frantically. Brother Eye was acting erratically, and he was going to need help. Still as the message came across, he gave it a brief glance, and brought him a measure of peace. Downloaded data from New York's Kingpin, loading it into the necessary servers and will begin going over it soon – Lucius.

Batman knew the data was in good hands. Now he just had to see what happened to Brother Eye. The satellite was offline, but briefly came online, giving conflicting reports. During those brief moments, he had begun software checks, and something had been changed. As if someone had injected a virus into the code, parts of it were rewritten, and the backups were trying to fix the problem. However, whatever had corrupted the programming, was still in there, fighting back. He just didn't know what it as, or what the endgame of this thing was.