Blink
Themyscira - The Oracle Chamber
Her arms were already lost to her, tied helplessly to the sides. She was on a sloping board and positioned with her head lower than her heart. Her legs were lashed together so that the board and she was a single, trussed unit. The Oracle's breathing was labored. The old woman's blindfold hung limp and was soaked like her hair. In the pregnant darkness, the sound of Circe's cruel laughter rang in her ears. She was helpless to stop her.
Waterboarding.
The official lie about this was that it "simulated" the feeling of drowning. This was not the case as the Oracle was becoming fully aware of. You feel that you are drowning because you are drowning—or, rather, being drowned, albeit slowly and under controlled conditions and at the mercy of those who are applying the pressure. The "board" was the instrument, not the method. You are not being boarded. You are being drowned.
In this isolated darkness, head downward; she waited for a while until she abruptly felt a slow cascade of water going up her nose. Determined to resist if only for the honor of her ancestors, the Oracle held her breath for a while and then had to exhale and inhale in turn. The inhalation brought the damp cloths tight against her nostrils, as if a huge, wet paw had been suddenly and annihilatingly clamped over her face. Unable to determine whether she was breathing in or out, and flooded more with sheer panic than with mere water, she thrashed helpless.
Air, precious air was gone and in it's place only water. The horrible sensations of smothering and claustrophobia overwhelms her as the nightmare continued. Her heart felt as if it would burst, as her lung burned. Endless, the torture seemed to go on forever. The black, wet world was all around her, consuming her, draining the life by the moment.
Then she was released. Gagging, coughing, retching, gasping for air, she fell into a heap on the floor. She could feel Circe's hand stroking against her forehead and almost wept at this false act of kindness. The relationship of tortured and the torturer warped perception into some strange sadomasochistic ritual.
Someone once wrote, paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln, "If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. Well, then, if waterboarding was not torture, then there is no such thing as torture."
"We can do this all day, Oracle,' Circe whispered. "Give me your help and it will stop.'
"You-You torture me-me and then-then expect my help,' the old woman murmured between gasps for air.
"Torture is such a loaded word,' Circe replied. "Haven't you heard, now it is called enhanced interrogation? They changed the name and now it's not torture anymore."
"A rose is a rose,' the Oracle whispered.
"Yes, too true,' Circe admitted. "In your case it must be infinitely worse, isn't it? Even now, your gift of sight is probably showing you the next time. It is like an endless loop running constantly; a nightmare that you can't wake up from. All your pride, all your will power means nothing in the end. Show me what I want to see and this will end, I promise Oracle."
"You will kill me when you get what you want,' the old woman replied.
"Yes, but then it will be over,' Circe whispered. "That is the ultimate outcome either way, it is our choice how much longer the suffering goes on."
The impact of her words hit the Oracle like a title wave. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as the last bit of her resistance failed. She was just an old woman, worn out and exhausted. She had no fight in her left. Finally she just nodded her capitulation.
"A wise choice, Oracle,' Circe said. "You spoke of old power returning, splitting in two. Show me and this will end."
Circe sliced the ropes holding the old woman and allowed her to try and stand. She failed, but Circe grabbed her and put her hands on the edge of the divining pool.
"Show me."
The Oracle whispered the ancient words and the water began to cloud and swirl. Images bubbled to the surface and then dissolved into mist. Circe stood transfixed, as the images formed again.
She saw a small boy standing on the beach during a storm. She watched as the lightening hit him over and over until he disappeared into a cloud of dust. When it settled, she saw the young man emerge. She also saw the woman with him, Morgaine le Fey. The images shifted and Circe saw them in bed together. She grumbled in frustration.
The images shifted again and Circe saw the teenage girl rushing home in the same storm and one again the lightening hitting her. She watched the smoldering body transform before her eyes. A smile spread across her lips as she recognized the girl. Marvel, Mary Marvel, yes she would do nicely, Circe thought.
"Well done, Oracle, well done,' Circe said. She then pulled the blade from beneath her robes and thrusts it into the old woman's back. The Oracle flinched and gasped before falling to the floor. Circe smiled a cold smile and opened a portal. The room was silent, as she stepped into it. From the floor a gasp was heard and the Oracle desperately pulled herself up to the side of the divining pool. Her life was fading and the end was rushing towards her.
"You-You didn't let me finish, witch,' the Oracle whispered. "Those that tempt the flame always end up getting burned. This is your fate, change it if you can."
Gotham
It was laundry night and it didn't matter that she was a hero. Dinah's clothes needed washing just like everyone else. She'd spoke to Clark earlier and they made a date for later in the week. It was a brief, but pleasant conversation as he was still at work. Wearing an old pair of sweats and her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she lugged her laundry baskets down the several flights of stairs to the basement of her building to get started. Dinah didn't really feel like doing laundry, but knew it had to be tonight. She would have the laundry room all to herself as most of the other residences tended to use it on the weekends. Sure, the next several hours would be rather dull and boring, but she would get it all done without interruptions. It was just there was no TV and wifi didn't seemed to reach the room. She had a copy of the James Patterson novel Private London with her and figured it would be a good way to pass the time.
"So much for the glamorous life of a superhero.' She muttered to herself as she put the first load in and tried making herself comfortable in one of the plastic chairs. Ev had disappeared again, probably at the mention of laundry, so Dinah opened her book and started what was going to be a long night.
She was perhaps twenty pages into the book and just starting to really get into it when she heard a noise. Looking up she realized someone was coming down the stairs. Great, she thought, it's probably that creepy guy from the third floor trying to sneak a look at my panties again. Setting the book down she moved over to her laundry basket and pushed them to the bottom just as she heard the door open.
"Sorry to disappoint you, pervy, but no free show here,' she said over her shoulder. "Guess you'll just have to make do with the Internet to rub one out tonight."
There was a pause and she heard no movement behind her. She was just starting to turn when she heard his voice.
"Did you just tell me to 'rub one out', Dinah?"
Clark.
Oh God, she thought with a cringe. Her face was beet red as looked at him standing in the doorway.
"Um, ah, hi, um, Clark,' she managed to say. "I, um, well, didn't, you know, um, realize it was you."
"That's reassuring,' he replied with a smile.
"I thought you were the perv from the third floor,' she offered, wishing she could die right now, as this was too embarrassing.
"You mistook me for a pervert,' he mused. "You're just full of compliments tonight."
"I didn't mean it like that! I just meant … okay, sorry, let's forget it, please?" She practically begged. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Well, you mentioned it was laundry night and I know how boring that can be, so I thought I'd stop by for a while,' he said. He set a basket down on the small plastic table. "I didn't have anything to do till later, so I thought maybe we could have some take out and talk."
"Seriously? She asked in shock.
"Nothing special, just some Market Fresh sandwiches from Arbys, some salad and some beer,' he replied. "But if you'd prefer I can leave? I'm not sure about 'rubbing one out' tonight, but let's see how it goes."
She couldn't help returning his smile. She moved over and pulled him into a kiss.
"You're staying."
Fawcett City
"Shazam."
A nervous hand wiped the steam from the mirror. The strange, yet familiar face looked back at Mary. Another restless night had come and gone. The face in the mirror wasn't giving any answers.
Swallowing nervously, she let the towel slip away. Goosebumps formed on her skin. Feminine curves, all hints of adolescences removed. Fingertips tremble, reach up and touch the angled curve of her cheekbone following its line down to full lips. They quiver just a bit under her touch. Swallowing down the nervousness, she continued letting her hand move to her slender neck.
Tracing her collarbone, she watched her chest rise and fall with each breath. The difference is so striking and noticeable. A little shudder went through her as she let her hand skim over them. Her fingers descended through the valley between towards the narrow waist. Her index finger touched her navel as her other fingers spread over the slight curve below. Too nervous or ashamed, she moved her hand no lower.
Her eyes glanced at the door, making sure it was locked before continuing the journey. From the trim waist, full rounded hips lead to tapered legs. Even her feet seemed different. She's an adult, at least in appearance. Whatever caused this had burned away the last vestiges of puberty.
She could still see her former self in the reflection, but saw the changes as well. Mary had always been modest about her looks, but liked to think she was attractive. Cute was the word most used to describe her. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, the thought that she was now beautiful came to mind.
She blushed at this. Was it so wrong to consider yourself beautiful, she wondered? When she used to transformed into Mary Marvel, she had closely resemble her mother. Her mother was beautiful in Mary's eyes. She could see traces of her in this new reflection. Something was gone, though. Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, she couldn't help noticing how sensual the movement seemed in this new form.
Wholesome and innocent was the box most put Mary in. Lately she had begun to feel the limitations of it. Her cheeks flushed as she looked at herself now. Her reflection certainly wouldn't be described as wholesome or innocent. In the old movies she and Billy watched the name for women that looked like the image in the mirror was femme fatale. Was this reflection a reflection of who she was now? Does how we look on the outside tell who we are on the inside? She didn't feel any different, except more confused but she'd noticed others reacted differently to her now.
Looking at herself, Mary realized she couldn't remain as she was. The limbo she'd been living in was at an end. Even if she wished to stay the same like Billy, change had been thrust upon her. Reaching down, she picked up the towel and wrapped it around her again. As she straightened up, she looked into the mirror at her eyes and saw a glimmer of something move around her cornea. Taking a step forward she wanted to see what it was.
The world slipped away again.
Hunger, it was all consuming.
Hunger like Mary had never known, for life, sex, violence and passion literally burned through her. A world of deep blue surrounded Mary. The wind whirled and ripped at her flesh, yet she continued forward. She was riding a great beast; a dragon and they were in the middle of a battle. The enemy was before her and their leader broke through. They were face to face across the open sky. There was a moment when their eyes met and a flicker of something passed between them. No screamed through her mind. She could feel the tension against her fingers as she drew the bow string back and then launched an arrow.
A rush of excitement went through her as she saw it find its target. The humanoid tumbled from his mount as the standard slipped from his fingers.
Victory!
A great roar went up all around her. Her forces had seen it too. Tilting her head back she joined them, shouting in triumph. A roar seemed to go on forever.
When she opened her eyes, Mary was back in the bathroom. She was slumped forward, her face pressed against the mirror. Her eyes went wide as she wondered if she were going insane.
The Isle of White
Limbs intertwined, clutching, grabbing, demanding and caressing. Hunger consumed them both. Fingers laced together, she pushes his hands above his head as she rode him violently. Between demanding kisses he gasped in excruciating pleasure. An almost feral smile crossed her lips as she pushed him on and on. She would take everything from him and enjoy all of it. Further and further they pushed each other until they both reach the peak.
Mordred gasped in ecstasy, but then the world slipped away.
A world of shadows spreads out around him. He could feel a cool breeze on his face and as he glanced down he saw he was in another alien body. A red dwarf cast a pale, translucent glow over everything. This was an old world; so ancient it had been forgotten by everyone. He felt his lips move whispering some alien words. He didn't understand the sounds but they had the quality of a prayer. A wide arroyo stretched out below him and he could see some sort of altar at the center. In the middle of it, there appeared what looked like a gong, massive in size. Dust covered everything, as this place hadn't been used or touched in eons. He felt himself slipping down to his knees, two strange alien hands clasped together in front of his eyes. The prayer continued. As he scanned the altar, his eyes stopped on something he'd seen before. Next to the massive gong were two standard, torn and tattered with age, but there was no mistaking them. Three black circles on a field of red. Three blue lines on a field of green.
He bowed in reverence, his face pressed to the dead ground and then the world shifted again.
He was back in bed with Morgaine. She looked down at him with a predatory smile, her beauty never quite so radiant as at that moment.
"The night is young and I feel glorious,' she whispered before claiming his lips with a passionate kiss.
Gotham
Selina Kyle aka Catwoman was mostly reformed, mostly. She was a bit like a recovering drinker, she could pass on most spirits, but there were a few that still made her lick her lips in desire. A two thousand year old Japanese jade feline figurine with black pearl eyes on display at the Gotham Art Museum made her salivate. She must have gone to the museum twenty times during the previous days and stood with the tourists gazing at it. She'd been good; she really had and didn't steal it. She'd even congratulated herself every time she walked out of the museum and it wasn't in her possession.
That was until she found out it was only on loan from a private collector and would be leaving at the end of the month than the itch started. After a little checking, she discovered the private collector was a member of the Yakuza and the itch grew into a fever. It wasn't really stealing if you take it from a criminal, was it, she thought? He probably stole it himself. It was more like she was liberating it, she told herself. It wasn't really stealing at all, more like Robin Hood, except she wasn't going to give it to the poor.
So Selina found herself on top of one of the five star hotels in the business district tonight. Catwoman had an itch that just needed to be scratched.
The Watchtower
Vexillology is the scholarly study of flags.
It was very late. While the computer ran the configuration Rose had relayed to him, Bruce kept going over all the reports he could find on recent murders in Japan involving Yakuza. He was multitasking. Unfortunately, no one, not even Batman can give equal attention to two different things, one always gets just a little more.
It wasn't hard to guess which matter got more in this case. The murder had taken place in Gotham, his city.
The Yakuza man in Gotham wouldn't be the first, he thought. As he scanned the files, his mind was also thinking about the news about Diana. He found himself wondering why Diana hadn't come to him with the news. They were friends and once had almost been more, yet she hadn't even called him about it. It bothered him. He knew it was petty and that she had enough to deal with, but he couldn't deny it was there. She'd gone to Clark instead of him.
The door to the computer room opened and Bruce knew who it was immediately. He'd been expecting him. Bruce didn't turn, just kept checking over the files. He heard the door slide closed.
"I told you in confidence,' Clark said. "I didn't expect you to use it against me like that."
"That wasn't my intention, Clark, you know that,' Bruce replied, turning to face him. "I just wanted to make sure your feelings weren't making you a bit bias in this."
"Bruce, Diana's my friend," Clark replied. "Regardless of what happened between Hippolyta and me, I'll always support her."
"Yes, I know, but I also know you have some complicated emotions towards Hippolyta,' Bruce countered. "There is also the fact that two out of the ordinary events, Hippolyta sleeping with you and then calling this tournament happened in such a short time. Do you think that's just a coincidence?"
"I don't know what she's doing, Bruce,' Clark said. "I'll admit, I've wondered if they are connected, but I don't see how. Hippolyta made her feelings pretty clear about it being a one time thing between us."
"Perhaps the lady changed her mind,' Bruce offered.
"So she calls for a new Tournament? Thanks for the ego boost, but that seems a little farfetched, doesn't it?"
"Yes, but something is going on,' Bruce said. "There has to be more to this than Hippolyta is letting on."
"Well, I wish she'd tell Diana what it is,' Clark said. "She's confused and deeply hurt by her mother's actions.'
"Why did she come to you?' Bruce found himself asking before he could stop himself.
"You mean instead of you?"
"No, not just me, but she has a boyfriend, yet she went to you,' Bruce replied.
"Maybe she wanted an unbiased opinion. I don't really know,' Clark said. "She doesn't know about what happened with me and Hippolyta if that's what you're thinking.'
"Are you saying I'm bias? Please,' Bruce said dismissively.
"Bruce, you just threatened to resign if anyone was allowed to sit in Diana's chair," Clark countered. "It's just a chair, Bruce."
"There was a point," Bruce tried to justify himself.
Clark just gave him a look and then slowly turned and left the room. Bruce turned back to the screens and continued his investigation.
Themyscira
Diana had taken a deep breath to calm herself and then stepped through the portal from the Embassy. Phillipus, Artemis and Donna were standing waiting to greet her. Diana was happily surprised to see her sister and immediately embraced her.
'When did you get home?' She asked.
"Not soon enough,' Donna replied. "I leave for a little while and the place goes crazy. How come I wasn't told about the Tournament? I would have entered!"
"You wanted to take the title away from me too?' Diana asked.
"Well, no, but if mother was able to, maybe I'd have had a shot,' Donna teased. Diana smiled and gave her a light smack on the arm.
"Ow, watch it, your majesty!"
"Now don't you start,' Diana grumbled. "Artemis has already been having her fun with that."
"You can't put it off, Diana,' Phillipus spoke up. "The Senate is waiting for your answer."
"I know,' Diana nodded. 'I guess I have no real choice in this. I must due my duty."
"You make it sound like you're being punished,' Artemis remarked. 'They're making you Queen, not asking you to clean out the horse barns, Diana."
Diana gave her a snide look, but only received a grin from Artemis. Taking another deep breath, Diana turned to Phillipus and Donna.
"I guess we might as well get this over with,' she said with little enthusiasm.
"A wise decision, my Queen,' Phillipus said.
Diana grumbled a bit, but didn't say anything. The four women moved over to the door and Diana noticed Artemis had an even bigger grin on her face. She was just about to ask what that was for, when the doors were pushed open and the sight of the entire Senate looking at her with anticipation greeted Diana. She started to take a step back, but Donna pushed her forward.
"Oh, no you don't, if you don't do it, I'll have to,' Donna whispered.
"All hail Queen Diana,' Artemis shouted. The Senators gave a cheer and came rushing towards Diana ready to crown her as Queen. She looked around in shock, but Donna and Artemis just stood to the side smiling at her. The crown was placed on Diana's head and the Senators all bowed to her. Penelope, the head of the Senate stepped forward.
"We will of course have a formal ceremony, but this is just to make it official,' she informed Diana. "You are now Queen Diana of the Amazons. The Senate and all of your sisters await your first decree, my Queen."
Diana looked at everyone, still a little in shock over everything. There was only one thing on her mind though.
"Please bring the former Queen, Hippolyta to me."
"Wow, only been Queen two seconds and she has that issuing orders thing down already,' Donna whispered to Artemis.
"It's like she was made for it,' Artemis said in agreement. They both received a glare from Diana. They just smiled and waved, giving her thumbs up.
Gotham
The murder of Kenzo Wakai had the whole organization on alert. The police had told them it was a robbery that probably went bad, but senior members of the Makuda Yakuza weren't taking any chances. In their business, this sort of action sometimes signaled that someone might be making a move against them and they took it very seriously. Kijuro Makuda, the head of the family hadn't risen to be one of the top leaders in the Yakuza by taking any threat for granted. He was a ruthless old man, who killed anyone that got in his way on his climb to the top.
This meant the top floor of the hotel was a fortress. Extra guards had been flown in to beef up security. No one got in or out without being checked and rechecked first. Selina had scoped this all out before she slipped inside. She didn't know why they were all on edge and she didn't really care. She wasn't here to fight them, just steal from them. In a way, she thought, this actually helped her. They were counting on their new security systems and extra guards to protect them, but every security system has a weakness. You just have to know what it is.
Selina found a hole in it and slipped into the room with the jade cat. Her goggles allowed her to see the lasers and other hidden security. She moved with the fluid movement of a silent ballerina, disturbing nothing.
The room with the jade cat was centrally located and they must have assumed this made it safer. It did make it a little more difficult for her to get to, but it also made them overconfident. As she worked the safe dial, she could hear the guards just outside the door. By the sound of their voices she guessed there were probably seven of them.
"Come to momma,' she whispered as she gently eased the priceless jade cat out of the safe and slipped it into her bag. Selina heard one of the guards say he was going check the room, so she closed the safe quickly and got out of sight. The door opened and light spilled in from the hallway. He was a short, stocky man, but powerfully built. He was carrying a small submachine gun and slowly moved it over the room. Selina thought that was a bit of overkill, but maybe he was compensating for something else, she mused. He checked the room and was just leaving when the sound of the elevator stopping reached Selina's ears. All seven of the guards raised their guns and were ready as the doors parted.
Curiosity got the better of Selina and she tiptoed over to peak out the slightly ajar door. She was just as surprised as the guards seemed to be when the doors opened and a small, Japanese woman was standing there. She was dressed in a traditional kimono and had her hair done up on top of her head. She may have had to whitest skin Selina had ever seen. At first she thought it was makeup, but it was too smooth. The contrast between her skin and jet-black hair was striking. The small woman's eyes went wide in shock and surprised and she brought an ornate fan up to cover her face.
Selina knew she should leave, but something made her remain. The guards were chuckling as they looked at the small woman. One reached out and pulled her off the elevator and they surrounded her. Selina had a bad feeling about this. The woman looked from one guard to the next, as if she wasn't sure what to do.
"You're a pretty little thing, aren't you,' a guard said. The others chuckled at this. The woman seemed to blush and kept her head down. Selina felt herself getting angry as she heard them making rude and offensive comments to the tiny woman. Damn it, Selina thought, if these assholes would just let the girl by, I could be out of here.
Unfortunately, the guards had no intention of letting the beautiful young woman off that easily. One of the leaders plucked at the label of her kimono and said they needed to search her. He laughed and said, besides, we can't tell what kind of body you have under there. The woman shook her head, but the guards insisted. Blushing, the small, young woman reluctantly started to take off the kimono. Chuckles and more crude remarks filled the hallway as the young woman slipped the kimono off. Selina had to admit the woman was very beautiful. The kimono dropped to the floor and the young woman stood there, head bowed. Circling her body was a dragon tattoo, or an artistic representation of a dragon tattoo. The guards seemed startled by this.
"You're just full of surprises, are you, little one,' the head guard said. "A dragon, how interesting and what is it supposed to mean?"
The young woman looked up at him for the first time. Selina found she was holding her breath.
'Death. Blood for blood,' the small, young woman said. The guards gave a nervous chuckle at this. Selina noticed that a few did raise their weapons, even as they tried to act unfazed by the woman's words.
"Death, ah? So a little thing like you is here to kill us,' the guard joked. "All by yourself?'
"Yes,' the young woman said. In the next moment her hand swung up and across the man's face. It was so quick; there was no time to react. The fan she held slashed a six-inch gash across his cheek and nose. Blood gushed from the wound.
"AAGGGHHA! You little bitch!" the man gasped, but her next strike took his throat and only choking wet gasps came after that. She was in motion before the full impact of what she'd just done registered with the other guards. Selina stood peaking out the crack in the door, shocked, yet mesmerized by the spectacle happening in front of her. The young woman was a deadly blur, her fans ripping through flesh and bone. A few guards managed to get off shots, but she had already moved from their sights.
Blood was everywhere. It was an orgy of blood and carnage, as she moved through the guards silently, yet oh so deadly. Selina watched her, fascinated and horrified by what she was seeing. She had witnessed many terrible things in her time in Gotham, but this was different. This was like a dance of death with its central player from some other world. Selina gasped as the tiny, young woman picked one of the guards off the floor and slammed him into the wall. He had to weight two sixty, yet she did it effortlessly. It was then Selina saw the dragon tattoo move, writhing sensually over the woman's pale white skin. It seemed alive, yet a part of the small woman. Selina backpedaled, suddenly desperate to get as far away from this place as possible. In her haste, she tripped one of the alarms and the room suddenly filled with sirens.
The door smashed open and the small woman was standing there, her dead black eyes focused on Selina. She had her kimono draped over her shoulders, but it hung loose covered in blood.
"You shouldn't have been here,' the woman said.
"I was just leaving,' Selina nervously bantered, even as she was moving towards the window. Something struck her shoulder, knocking her to the ground. Gasping in pain, Selina managed to get to her feet, only to find the woman right on top of her. In one swift move, she had Selina by the throat and lifted her off the floor. Selina panicked, feeling the small, delicate hand cutting off her supple of air.
"I'm sorry, but there can be no witnesses,' the woman softly said. She began to squeeze and Selina knew if she didn't do something now, she would never have another chance. Lashing out with her boot, she caught the woman in the side of the head and knocked her away. The grip loosens and Selina took the opportunity to rush to the window. She could hear the woman right behind her, so there was no other choice. Selina dove through the glass and found herself plunging down through the Gotham night towards the pavement far below.
Her shoulder was in agony, yet somehow she managed to get her whip out and desperately snapped it out for anything that might break her fall. A sense of relief came as it snagged on one of the ornamental stone works of the building's façade, but then something hit her hard in the back. She nearly lost her grip on the whip, as two hands clawed down her shoulders and spine. Selina screamed as pain shot through her.
"No witnesses,' the voice repeated.
"Are you fucking crazy?' Selina shouted, just as the whip reached it's full extension and she was jerked to a stop. The impact nearly tore her shoulder from its socket and she gritted her teeth against the pain, willing herself not to pass out. Spinning towards the building she caught a glimpse of the other woman falling.
"Who jumps out of a window?" Selina said aloud, but even as she thought she was witnessing the tiny woman's death, she got another surprise. The woman twisted in midair and launched the sash from her kimono, finding a flagpole to help stop her momentum. As she effortlessly swung to safety, Selina knew she was in serious trouble. She could already see the tiny woman climbing the outside of the building towards her. Time to disappear, Selina thought. She felt the blood oozing from her shoulder, but there was no time to do anything about it. The little Dragon Lady wasn't going to give up it seemed, Selina realized. With her muscles screaming in protest, Selina began to run. This was Gotham, her city; she could loose the woman in the back alleys and neighborhoods. One thought came to her mind and she headed towards the light.