The SECRET Training: Young Justice Seasons 1 & 2

AU YOUNG JUSTICE MOVIE:

DEATHSTROKE VERSES SHADOWCAT: A KITTEN'S FATE

SIX MONTHS AGO…

Three days after Catwoman died…

Stephanie Kyle sat in her mother's chair and turned it over, and over… and over again, a million times by her count. Her mother's vice-president, Lukas Sanders, was being sworn in as acting president of her mother's company until Stephanie was 18. She was so bored. She wanted to get this over with so she could go to the funeral home and get that over with.

Isis was lounging on the desk, one that the 12 year old girl had cleared off and all of her mother's personal stuff was in a sealed box. Peter was on his way up to get it.

She felt alone. Roy, Wally and Dick had been calling her, trying to keep her spirits up but she still felt alone. She wanted her dad. She really did. And she knew who he was.

Batman.

How was she going to get his attention?

Well, there is your mother's method.

Stephanie glared at the Egyptian Mau. She shook her head no.

Do not knock it until you try it, Isis told her.

N-O.

No way was she going to commit a crime!

The door handle to her mother's office door was turning.

Stephanie was on her feet in less than a second.

It opened.

It swung open.

Mr. Bruce Wayne was standing in the doorway. Behind him was Dick. And Lukas.

"Stephanie?" Lukas broke past and walked over to the girl with the redden eyes. "This is Mr. Wayne. He and your mother were friendly competitors but they, from time to time, team up on projects. He wanted to see you. Are you up to it?"

She shrugged her shoulders. She was afraid to open her mouth and bust out crying.

Lukas nodded and walked back over to the doorway. He and exchanged soft words and then the former V.P. was gone.

Bruce walked in gently, watching how brave this little girl was trying to be. He felt horrible for her. It took him two days to even begin grasping the notion that Selina wasn't coming back to him. He loved her. He knew she loved him too. He just wasn't expecting her to be gone so soon. He kneeled down to Stephanie's height, to not intimidate her with his height, and stared into her grey-blue eyes. "Stephanie?" He watched her look up at him. "I am sorry about your mother. She was a good woman." –Even though she stole all the time- "If you need anything, anything at all, you can always call me."

He motioned for Dick to come over. "This is my son, Dick. Dick, Stephanie."

She shyly waved her hand, then her fingers at him.

Richard flashed her a grin, which she returned with a blush. Pretending he didn't know her sucked. He wanted to pull his sister into his arms and let her cry. She needed it, with the way she was trying to stop herself from crying.

Bruce smiled, a polite smile that Stephanie knew was so fake and so practiced. "Stephanie, you can cry. You won't be judged. I lost my parents when I was younger than you."

Her eyes widened in shock. She saw how his eyes wavered, as if the pain still haunted him, even grown. "It-it never goes away…does it?"

"I wish I can tell you it will. But it won't. It gets easier. That I can promise you." His voice remained gentle, so he didn't spook the small girl before him.

That was when Stephanie lost it. She broke down and cried again.

How humiliating!

Bruce pulled her into his arms and held her close. "Cry, Stephanie. You'll feel better."

And she just that.

*FLASH FORWARD*

Six months later, after the events of Episode 6:Infiltrator…

"Hey Peter? I'm heading out to the cats." Stephanie grabbed her black hoodie and pulled it over her head.

"Don't stay out too long, Steph. The temps drop fast this time of year," he reminded her. "I'll lock down the condo when you get back."

Stephanie jogged over to Peter and hugged him. "I'll be back in an hour or two." She then left quickly.

The night air was slightly biting to Shadowcat's exposed skin so she pulled on black gloves as she trekked the two miles to the cat sanctuary.

Her mother started the sanctuary over a decade ago, when she got a call about a grown lioness being confiscated by the SPPD (Saint Paul PD) in a drug bust. Was she willing to take it in? Selina did without question.

That lioness was named Sylvie, and she was three years old at the time. Sylvie sensed who her mother was and went with her without much fuss. She was the first cat Selina saved. Four months later, Selina got a lion. His name was Roar. A five year old lion who was about to be butchered illegally before boarder patrol found the smugglers.

Roar took to Sylvia right away, and the two mated within a year. Roar loved to snuggle up to a three year old Stephanie and eventually, Sylvie did too.

After Roar came Moonlight, a two year old cheetah with a traveling circus that was mistreated. It took a while for Selina to gain the cheetah's trust but she did. At times, Moonlight, gets skittish. Even today.

Two years later, Cam came to them. He was a smuggled panther that became a pet and tamed. But he attacked his owner so Selina got custody while the courts (to this day) sort out where he would go. It took 6 months to calm Cam down enough to join the others. Then Selina took the next 6 months breaking up fights among the cats.

Once the dust settled, Slugger came. He was a former circus cat that was bought by a lame rapper called Austin Steiber, hoping to be seen as a cooler rapper than C.R. Ram J. But he wanted the cat gone because it was a bigger diva than him. Slugger loved rolling in the mud. All day, every day. He was very domesticated.

He's still the easiest cat to deal with.

A year later, Halfnote came to them, a smuggled white tiger cub that Stephanie raised from 2 months old. The first domesticated cub she's ever raised. Halfnote was a lover of music and would dance to music and would dance to music that she liked.

Selina would say that Halfnote was Stephanie's familiar.

Last year, the sanctuary grew.

Oscar, a smuggled snow leopard, was a cat used in fighting. Police broke up the fight ring-but Oscar has a lame left hind leg. It was damaged in a fight and was limp and useless. But he has a fighter's spirit. He whines when there is any talk of amputating that leg. He would roar, whine and growl in protest. A few weeks ago, he surprised Stephanie by limping to her when she delivered dinner to the cats. He put weight on it, even though it hurt him to do so.

A month ago, a snow leopard cub came to her. It was severely malnourished and far too young to be away from its mother. Under a vet's care and Stephanie's careful feedings, the cub called Icy gained 20lbs so far. But it had a long road ahead of it.

Before she knew it, she was at the sanctuary. The enclosure was secured with a thick chain-unsafe in most people's eyes. Stephanie punched in her number and went inside.

The cats pounced on the young girl.

Carefully, of course. After all, they weighted hundreds of pounds.

Slugger wanted her to run her fingers through his muddy fur. She only did it briefly, but he wanted more. So she did it again to appease him.

Stephanie greeted all of her able-walking cats before going to the center den to check on her new cats.

Oscar had his tongue hanging out, staring at her happily. Despite his violent upbringing, he was a gentle cat.

Shadowcat picked up Icy and sat next to Oscar's head. "How's my little fighter?" She looked dead at Oscar.

He purred at her, looking at her as if she was a sister and knew what he was saying. Well, thanks to her cat abilities, she did.

"I see. Now, Oscar. We need to talk about your leg."

He whined.

"We've been avoiding this for too long, you know."

The cat shook his head. He didn't want to talk about it.

"Oscar, now listen. You're leg isn't getting any better. You may have to lose it."

Oscar started at Stephanie hard. Nobody was cutting off his leg!

"Then it's rehab for you." She petted Icy as she talked to the stubborn male cat. "And don't argue. I want you whole again."

Oscar rubbed his head on her thigh. To show that he understood.

'Little sister. You are in danger.'

That was Halfnote.

Stephanie set Icy down. "Gotta go, Oscar. Keep Icy safe." The girl crawled out of the den. Halfnote was in high alert, crouched down and growling. 'Halfnote?'

'A man. An evil man. Do not leave.'

"Easy, Halfnote." 'I can't have him near you all. Don't worry-I'll be careful.' She stood up and went to the gate. The other cats were becoming restless, even as she closed it behind her and locked it. The warning in hand, Stephanie began the hike back to the condo.

The temperature was dropping and the cold air bit into the girl's exposed skin. Now, if she was to take to the trees, she'd get warm and home faster. But she didn't want whoever it was following her to know that she knew and didn't want to reveal her secret.

She pulled out her cell when it vibrated. She saw who it was and answered it. "R-A?"

"Steph, there's a hit on you!" Roy cried. "Are you okay?"

"No. I need you-all three of you," she said softly. "I'm being followed."

"Are you at the house?" he asked.

"No. I was checking on my cats."

"Get back to the house! We're on our way!" There was a panic in his voice.

That was when the gun shot rang out.

Stephanie screamed as the bullet ripped into her outer thigh and out, she dropped to one knee. "Red Arrow!" she cried into the phone.

"RUN! GET UP AND RUUUNNN!" Roy screamed into his cell.

Shadowcat forced herself to her feet and ran just as the second shot rang out. It hit a tree that she just ran by, the bark splintering instantly.

She ran.

"Damn it!" Roy pulled out his other cell. The one that only he, Dick and Wally had. He was too late-Deathstroke was already hunting for her. The solo archer was already grabbing his full quiver and bow. He ran for the nearest Zeta Tube.

Wally was washing his sticky hands and face. Eating all of the ice cream was messy. His phone went off as soon as he dried his hands. He pulled out his phone. It was a text from Roy. So he checked it out.

-911! Deathstroke's after Shadowcat! He's shot her already. I'm heading there now! Meet me there!-

Wally sped downstairs, told everyone a mission just came up and left before anyone could ask anything.

"Barry, what did he say?" his sister-in-law asked.

"Something about a mission." Barry knew something was up.

Dick was changing out of his sweaty clothes when his cell vibrated. He looked at it right away.

-911! Deathstroke's after Shadowcat!-

That was all he read. "NO!" Throwing on a new top, he grabbed his utility belt and jacket and threw open the bathroom window.

Stephanie staggered to an oak tree, and looked down at her wound. The bullet had gone through and it hurt badly. She turned her head to see if she was being followed.

No one was there.

So she turned her head forward.

A punch came at her head.

Stephanie ducked and moved away.

Deathstroke grinned. "Where's my chip?"

"Screw you!" she threw a punch but he caught it.

"Now, now, Shadowcat. I just want my chip back." He kicked at her, and she caught his leg, twisted it and elbowed his knee.

Slade buckled under the pain.

Stepahnie didn't stay put-she ran as fast as she could.

Deathstroke stood up after popping his knew back in place. "She's had some training. I should test the limits of that training."

Shadowcat ran at a pretty good clip, her cat vision keeping her from running into the trees. Her leg was throbbing, and even the cold could not stop the bleeding completely, and she felt tired too. So when the old barn came into view, she went for it. It was never used, but she knew she could hide in it- her brothers were coming to help her.

Stephanie squeezed between the unseen doors and walked into the barn, which was so dark. She used her other senses to find a place to hide.

There were some stalls off to the left. So she ran to the farthest one and huddled behind the door.

That was when the fatigue hit her.

Her eyes were falling close, which she snapped them open. She looked down at her bullet wound. It had stopped bleeding but she was shivering.

Stephanie assumed that this was what he wanted. Besides the stupid chip that she gave to Robin. She felt her phone vibrate and she pulled it out.

It was Dick.

-We're coming. Where r u?-

She texted -The barn. Hurry. I feel so sleepy.-

-Don't sleep. We're close. Where were you shot?-

-Upper thigh. It really hurts.-

Unbeknownst to her, Deathstroke had entered the barn. And the light from her cellphone showed him where she was in the darkness.

He grinned.

"Bruce?" Barry sped into the Bat Cave, hoping to see the Dark Knight. The cave was empty however, and Flash wasn't known as a patient man. "Hey Bat!" he yelled.

"Flash?" Bruce came out of the costume room, his cowl still down.

"Is there a mission? Wally ran out from Jay's party saying it was an emergency."

"Robin said the same, that Roy called him over." Already thinking, Bruce headed for the Bat computer. Over the last few nights, he heard that there was a hit being planned. Tonight, he planned to find out who it was and why. "I had asked Roy to keep an eye out for Lukas Sanders."

"The guy in charge of Kyle Industries?" Barry asked.

"Yes. He's in charge until Selina's daughter is 18."

Flash heard the catch in his voice. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "You miss her."

There was a heavy sigh. "More than I'll ever admit."

Flash knew what that meant. Him and green Arrow suspected that Bruce loved Selina. There was always something about her that was off to him, but Bruce rarely loved. So he never said anything negative . She ended up leaving years ago. Then she died from cancer six months ago.

However, Barry believed that Bruce knew what really killed the young Miss Kyle.

Bruce was checking the underground chat rooms.

Flash said nothing.

Dick taught Bruce how to navigate the underground rooms. Ever since Selina died, Dick had been monitoring those chat rooms. The first time he caught the teen, Dick told him he believed someone will put a hit on Stephanie. Bruce believed Robin had a crush.

Something caught the Dark Knight's eye.

"Bats?" Barry saw the stiffening back.

"Dick was right. There's a hit on Stephanie Kyle."

Stephanie moaned as she opened her eyes. Her right eye wouldn't open and it throbbed. She tried to move her hands but couldn't.

Panic set in.

Dick's voice kicked in her mind. 'Take in your surroundings.'

Taking a calming breath, she focused on what she could see with her one eye.

She was in the large shed, by the looks of the interior. Only tables were stored in there and they still were. It was a metal shed, and it was cold. She was freezing cold. The howling wind was loud and deafening. Stephanie realized that she was on a table, tied to it with rope. And she was just in a bra and boy shorts. She was shivering.

Shadowcat turned to see where Deathstroke was.

Only he would do this to her.

He stood against one of the shed's poles, eyeing her through his mask. "So, you awaken." He walked toward her and she watched him through her cat eyes.

She saw his injuries, sensed the depth of them, the ones she inflicted before the blow to the head. He was trying to hide a limp. Stephanie couldn't help but be proud of herself.

"Where's my chip, little girl?"

"I don't have it," she said bravely. Was he really harping on that damn chip!?

Deathstroke didn't believe her. He kneeled down by the table and picked up a live battery cable. He held it up for her to see.

Shadowcat was scared. She knew what the cable was for. She saw enough movies. But she refused to show this assassin any fear. She stared him down.

"Such a brave kitty," he told her. He stabbed it into her bullet wound.

She screamed as her body arched off the table. Several hundred volts coursed through her body.

He lifted the cable from her wound, which began to bleed again. "Tell me where my chip is."

Stephanie was still panting, tears flowing from her eyes. The pain was overwhelming, her muscles spasm. She knew he asked a question but the pain was too much.

Slade waited with schooled patience for her to answer. He knew she wasn't fully trained, like Robin was. TO see real emotion to the pain he caused-it went a long way to ease his temper.

"I…"

Deathstroke leaned down to hear her words.

He got spit in his ear instead.

Livid, he slapped her hard in the face. Then thrust the live cable at her stomach, just above her navel.

A scream tore itself from her throat as she was electrocuted again.

Robin, Red Arrow and Kid Flash were searching for Stephanie around her parked RV when the boys heard her scream.

"Rob!" Wally yelled at him.

"I am," Dick responded, using his gauntlet computer to track her signal. The phone that she had had a GPS program in it, and it was on her and she was stationary. "The big shed. That's where she is."

"Wally, run over there but don't start fighting-"Roy never had the chance to finish.

Kid Flash took off.

"Let's go!" Robin took off after his best friend. Knowing Wally, he would try to take on Deathstroke. That was just the way he was.

Red Arrow was right behind him.

Back at Kyle Technologies…

The upper offices of the company were normally empty. But one member of the board of directors was still working.

Still waiting.

Alesandre Powers sat at his desk, staring at his phone, waiting on the call that would start his takeover of the company. He looked over the potential contracts that he would send out once he paid off enough board members to fire Lukas Sanders. After that, he'll be the CEO and the money would poor in.

But Stephanie Kyle was in his way.

Being the rightful CEO of her mother's company, she was all that stood in his way of paying off his investors.

The middle-aged man didn't notice the looming shape outside his window. Or that his window lock was useless against it.

The window opened soundlessly.

Powers' phone rang.

He hastily answered it. "Well?"

"She's as good as dead."

"That's not good enough! She needs to be dead! NOW!"

"You didn't pay me enough to end her fast."

Batman's eyes narrowed. He knew the voice well.

Deathstroke.

"How much more do you need?!" Alesandre demanded.

"1 billion dollars," was Slade's response.

"I…I don't have that kind of money!"

"Then she'll die at sunrise." The call was ended.

"Damn assassin!"

"A child…" Batman came out of the shadows. "She's just a child!" His anger fell from him in waves. She was Selina's child. How dare anyone try to kill her!

Alesandre stood up from his desk. "I don't know-"

Batman leaped onto his desk and the exec was trapped against Batman and the window behind him. "Why!?" he growled, demanding an answer.

"This company has no teeth. With me, this company will be a premier arms dealer. The kid's in my way."

Batman punched Alesandre in the face, which the window cracked behind him from the force of the punch. "This child is the rightful owner of this company."

"So?" Powers spat out some blood. "All's fair in love and war."

That was the wrong thing to say.

Bruce punched him again, and the glass window shattered under the force.

For two seconds, Powers fell back.

Batman caught the front of his business suit jacket. "Call off the hit. NOW!"

"I-I can't! He's been paid!" Alesandre shook with fear.

It didn't help that he peed his pants, either.

Disgusted, Batman dropped the man onto his carpeted floor. "If I'm too late, you won't see sunrise." The Dark Knight leaped out of the window.

Kid Flash picked himself up off the floor as ninja stars whistled toward him. He rolled away and scrambled to his feet as Deathstroke swiped at him with his katana blade.

It missed.

Shadowcat hung from her restraints, her body shaking from the cold and the volts of electricity that had coursed through her body. She lost her voice on the third time she screamed. But Deathstroke didn't care after that. He electrocuted her four more times.

Wally rushed in when he saw Stephanie go limp. His little sister was being tortured and he couldn't just watch. He had to stop it.

The teen speedster barely dodged the second swipe of Slade's katana, and he punched back, nailing the assassin in his face mask.

The snapping of bones echoed in the shed.

Wally broke his hand.

As Kid Flash cried out, Deathstroke sheathed his katana and pulled out his gun, aiming it at the teen hero.

An arrow sung in the air, nailing the gun and knocking it out of Slade's hand. Red Arrow stood in the doorway, a second arrow posed to be fired. "We know, Deathstoke. We have your chip."

"And you're going to pay for hurting her." Robin launched a bird-a-rang at Deathstroke, who jumped away to attack Red Arrow.

With a broken hand, Kid Flash raced over to Stephanie to free her. He saw her lack of clothes and blue lips.

Robin ran to help Red Arrow but he undid his cape and tossed it to Wally in a well-rehearsed move. The Boy Wonder saw the battery and the cable, and the burns on his sister's body. He was mad. No one hurts his sister and lived.

Deathstroke was able to knock Red Arrow away but Robin was on him. The two traded punches, kicks and quick moves that the two were known for without landing any of them.

Once Roy got his bearings, he worked with Robin to stop Slade once and for all.

Wally untied Stephanie's ankles and then her wrists, draping her in Robin's cape, wrapping her tightly before picking her up into his arms. He stayed away from the fight, wanting to help his friends. But Shadowcat shivered in his arms, even with Robin's cape around her, so he didn't try to jump in.

Deathstroke nailed Roy in the face with a punch to the cheek and as Red Arrow fell against the shed wall, Robin came at Slade with a spinning leg kick which the paid assassin grabbed. He threw Robin down but the Boy Wonder caught Deathstroke's side with his other leg and the villain went down.

Slade had enough. As Red Arrow came upon him with an arrow at the ready, the villain whipped out a hunting blade and stabbed Roy in the leg.

Crying out, Red Arrow went down.

Deathstroke ripped his knife free and charged Robin with the intent to hurt the young hero.

Robin realized what was going on. He dodged the knife and kept himself injury-free but now he had no choice but to fight alone.

Kid Flash rushed over to Red Arrow, Stephanie in tow. He let Roy throw an arm around his neck and the teen speedster lift Red Arrow up.

Slade withdrew a second gun and aimed it at the three. "ENOUGH! Surrender, Robin. Or the other sidekicks die."

Robin's hands shook as he could do nothing. He raised his hands in surrender.

"Now…bring the girl to me."

"No." Wally would not play this game with the assassin.

"I will shoot you three if you don't bring her here."

Stephanie started to come too. Through a blurry, semi-consciousness, Shadowcat saw the outline of Batman, a gun going off and a cry that sounded like Robin's.

Then the cold darkness too her again.

Batman was not happy.

Robin, Kid Flash and Red Arrow knew her.

They knew Stephanie.

This was the thing they were hiding from him. As Red Arrow laid out the tale, the Dark Knight was not impressed. Red Arrow, he understood would do something like this. Coming to her aid when crap hit the fan. But to involve Kid Flash and Robin? Robin got shot, even though it wasn't life-threatening!

Flash and Green Arrow were called in. Black Canary came along, which was good as they were at the Kyle Condo in Minnesota.

Her butler, Peter, was checking her over and promised to update her status as soon as it was possible.

"Red Arrow, this was rather irresponsible of you. Taking on Deathstroke would have killed you all."

That Bat Glare of his had Red Arrow biting his tongue.

"Please…don't be mad at them. They were only doing what my mom asked."

Everyone's head turned to see Stephanie, dressed in baggy shorts and a sweatshirt, leaning against the hallway entrance. She looked exhausted but made her way over to Batman, a limp so apparent in her walk.

"Miss Kyle! You are in no condition-" Peter started to say but Stephanie held her hand up to stop him.

"I need to say this. I know who my mom was. They were here with me when she died." Stephanie had to leave some things out, but she didn't want them to get into real trouble. Not on her account. "I called, because she said to call you, Batman. I got them instead. She asked them to train me, without you knowing. To teach me how to protect myself in case something like this was to happen. And I did hold my own-until I was shot. And I'm 12 years old, I don't know anything about being a hero. So they've been trying, whenever they had time. So please…don't be mad."

"You three should have told us!" Flash began.

"But-"

"No buts, Kid."

"Red Arrow, you could have told me."

"No way," Roy said defiantly.

Batman said nothing. He just stared at Robin, which was worse than saying anything at all.

"Please, you three can't be mad at them. They only did what my mom asked. It's over. I'm okay thanks to them." Stephanie walked over to Batman and took his hand into hers. "And to you."

Batman stared at the young girl who was Selina's spit image. He couldn't be mad, in truth. Selina wanted her daughter protected. What right did he have that the three just did as she asked? To train her in secret? "You're right. We can't be mad at them. Considering the circumstances, I understand."

"So you can't ground them. I still want them to train me. Please Batman?" She stared up at his cowl, her eyes shaking, asking.

He had no defense for that stare. It was just as bad as Dick's. "Alright. They still can. However, you need time to recover. I suggest you get some rest. And he only came because of a hit placed on you. By a member of your board."

Stephanie was shocked. "Who?"

"Powers," Batman answered.

"Oh, he's so fired. Like, way, way fired!"

"I am sure the police and Sanders will give you the details," Batman told her. "Now, off to bed with you."

"Uh, no." She then limped her way over to the teen boys. And hugged them. "Thanks, you guys. For everything." Stephanie then yawned.

Peter none too gently, guided her off to bed.

"Wow. She's got that Kyle charm," Green Arrow joked.

Batman glared at the archer.

"Batman, I think we should take our protégé's home. Let them rest."

"Kid Flash, Robin, you two have an extra training session with Black Canary."

The two groaned.

"Red Arrow-"

"Can't tell me what to do, Batman. I'm 18 and NOT part of the League. I'm staying here. Just in case."

The Dark Knight had to respect the former protégé of Green Arrow. At least someone was going to stay and make sure the young girl was safe. He didn't believe she told the whole truth but she knew who her mother was. And he did believe Selina asked the boys to train her. So she would be safe.

But there was more there, more than what she had said.

For now, he would not press. But if her training got in the way of Robin's and Kid Flash's missions, he would put a stop to it.

At least she didn't know their real names.

***So here it is. He knows about Stephanie! But not the full truth! Will he learn who she really is? Well, stay tuned to the rest of Season 1 to find out! And yes, it was a little rushed but I wanted to get this up before the blizzard runs through Ohio! So I better get going! Don't forget to review! ****