10 A Curious Cat
''Hey, Boss.'' Pierce cried out.
''What?'' Boss answered bored. He was sitting in a Jacuzzi surrounded by cute girls.
''Our new club the 'Saint's Sin' is opening. We found some plans in Penguin's stuff. He wanted to build an aristocratic fraud of a club called 'Iceberg Lounge'. Luckily, I got my hands on the plans and now we have our own club.'' Pierce stated proudly.
''Has it stripper pols?'' Boss asked.
''That was the first thing I let install.'' Pierce replied knowing Boss' tastes.
''I like it already.'' Boss said.
''Do you want to check it out before it goes public?'' Pierce offered.
''Hm. Not a bad idea and I don't have anything to do, anyway.'' Boss agreed. Boss stood up and a girl emerged from under the water. He dried himself off, put some clothes on and went with Pierce. On their way to the car, they were joined by Matt Miller. He also hadn't anything to do and wanted to see the club.
''How dare they steal something that I wanted to steal myself?'' muttered Selina Kyle to herself. She was stacking out the Saints' base for quite some time now. She had planned to steal a big sapphire which had been in possession of Penguin, but it now had changed its owner. Catwoman saw the leader of the Saints leaving the base followed by two guys. She had heard that he wasn't a man you could cross easily. So, she decided to hit the place when he and Johnny Gat were gone. What she had heard about Gat was even scarier than about the Boss.
Anyway, Selina didn't want to run into either of these two. Luckily, she had seen how Gat had left the base hours ago and had not come back since. She had to use this opportunity. She had already been a couple of times inside the base. Nobody seemed suspicious of her and if somebody asked, she just said she was a stripper. She couldn't get a plan of the new building but found some from the old building which the new one was based on. Underground was the main room, so Selina wanted to try out the upper floors.
She easily entered the building through the air vent. She crawled through the building. She stopped about a floor with a nice carpet. Carefully she opened the grid and jumped on the floor. Behind her she heard some voices. ''Kinzie, can I have your opinion on my newest security upgrade? I don't want that idiot Pierce breaking through it ever again.'' The woman who spoke stopped just where Selina was hiding behind a plant. But it didn't seem that she had noticed her.
''I am surprised that you didn't go to Matt,'' Kinzie replied.
''Honestly, I would have, but he is out with Boss, and I didn't want to wait,'' Asha answered.
''Sure thing, I will look into it.'' The two women proceeded their way and turned around a corner. Selina continued her search when she was sure, she was safe. After a couple of rooms, she found one with a big safe inside.
''Bingo.'' Selina whispered. She walked over to the safe and tried to crack it. Just when she almost did it, she heard.
''Hands over your head.'' Selina turned around and saw the woman from earlier standing in the doorway pointing a gun at her.
''It didn't seem like you had noticed me back there.'' Selina stated.
''Don't underestimate the trained senses of an MI6 special agent.'' Asha proudly said.
''MI6 working together with a street gang from Gotham. That is something I didn't expect.'' Selina did one step forward.
''Stop! Don't move from where you are or I will shoot.'' Asha threatened.
''You don't want to shoot little ol' me, do you?'' Selina purred. In one swift motion she pulled out her whip and disarmed Asha. ''MI6 special agent my ass. I disarmed you like an amateur.'' Selina laughed cockily. Asha instead going for her gun she closed the distance and threw a strong right. Selina surprised stumbled back. ''Bitch.'' She coughed.
''I will show you the benefits of proper fighting training.'' Asha said and made with her hand a move which indicated Selina to attack her. She was too close to use her whip on her so Catwoman dropped her weapon and attacked her opponent with wild slashes of her sharp claws. Asha skillfully dodged all attacks and kicked her in the stomach. Selina bent over. ''Is that all you got? Disappointing.'' Asha cockily said.
Catwoman jumped out of her crouching position and tackled Asha. She threw the Saint on a glass table which burst on impact. Asha quickly stood up. Both women took fighting stances. For a few moments they just looked each other in the eyes until Asha attacked. She threw a solid combination of punches. Selina blocked them and decreased their distance delivering an elbow strike. Instead of going down Asha used the force, spun around and kicked the female thief heavily in the stomach. Selina flew across the room and crashed into a wall.
Heavily panting she exclaimed. ''I have to admit, you are tough.''
Asha also voiced her admiration. ''You aren't bad yourself.'' Again they engaged in combat. Selina scratched Asha on her shoulder and her two arms. Asha managed to hit her ribs twice and one of her punches connected with Selina's chin.
''The kid's gloves are off, now.'' Selina stated for whom it didn't look good. Time to use some dirty tricks. She took something out of her belt and waited for Asha to attack.
When Asha wanted to strike, she threw it into her face. It was a powder to blind her. ''You dirty bitch.'' Asha exclaimed trying to get the powder out of her eyes. Selina kicked her in the stomach and punched her in the face. She lifted Asha up and threw her onto the ground.
Then she proceeded to put Asha into a sleeping hold. Asha half blinded fought back the best she could but only would postpone the inevitable. Suddenly a dart shot out of the shadows and hit Catwoman in the arm.
''What the?'' Selina exclaimed and removed the dart.
Slowly she could feel her limbs going numb. She already couldn't hold Asha anymore. Asha broke out of the hold rather easily and punched her in the face before she realized that something was off.
''Kinzie.'' Asha called out.
''Yes?'' Kinzie answered she had been standing right outside the room the whole fight.
''I would have taken her, you know.'' Asha complained.
''Sure you would have, I just wanted to make sure you didn't kill her.'' Kinzie agreed.
Asha didn't believe her. ''What did you do to me?'' Catwoman asked a little desperately.
''Just a little paralysis. You should be grateful, that I used my non-lethal darts.'' Kinzie answered.
''I will put her out of her misery, soon.'' Asha said and picked her gun up. She pointed her gun at Catwoman and wanted to shoot when she was stopped by Kinzie.
''Wait, we should call Boss. He should decide what to do with her.'' Kinzie said to Asha.
''What the hell, Kinzie? She broke into our home and now I am going to kill her. Why bother Boss with this? He would do the same.'' Asha said irritated by Kinzie's attitude. She had never been so shy about killing people before. Both knew that was true, but Kinzie pressed further.
''You don't know that.'' She replied.
''Fine.'' Asha answered and took out her phone. She called Boss. ''Hi, Boss. You won't believe who just broke into our base: Catwoman… What? You never heard of hear?... I know. I would have done it, but Kinzie insisted. I don't know… Is that Pierce?... No, she doesn't look like a dominatrix… Yeah, she has a skintight leather outfit… And yeah, she has a whip… Fine she looks like a dominatrix… I already said. I would have killed her, but Kinzie insisted… No, I didn't need Kinzie's help… When will you be back… Alright. See you then.'' Asha hung up. ''That is such a waste of time. And the first thing he asked me was, why I didn't kill her already, Kinzie.'' Asha looked accusingly at Kinzie.
''Don't worry. I am sure things will work out.'' Kenzie assured getting closer to Catwoman.
''Whatever. Just don't tell the others that I needed your help.'' Asha exclaimed.
''Hello? what are you going to do to me?'' Catwoman asked who could feel that the paralysis was starting to wear off.
''That is up to the Boss, but if you cooperate with us, I am sure there will be no harm done.'' Kinzie reassured.
''What is going with you? Sticking your neck out for some stranger? Wait a minute!'' Asha looked closer at Kinzie. Kinzie tried to look away. ''You are a fan-girl!'' Asha exclaimed.
Kinzie blushing replied. ''That is not true. I just have respect for her abilities.'' She tried to explain herself.
''Kinzie and Catwoman sitting on a tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g.'' Kinzie started to chase Asha around.
''Stop it.'' Kinzie begged. Asha laughed. Meanwhile the paralysis wore off completely. Catwoman suddenly jumped up, pushed Kinzie and Asha aside and ran out of the room.
She could still hear Asha scream. ''Kinzie, why didn't you tell me that the paralysis would wear off?''
Catwoman ran through a floor when she saw a door. A huge, bald man in a white suit entered through the door and blocked the way. The man was big and didn't look like he was very smart. A simple feint would surely be enough to get pass him. Catwoman pretended to go right but then shifted her body and jumped gracefully over the giant. To her surprise a giant hand grabbed her in midair.
''Miss, this simple feint is an insult to my intellect.'' The big man stated a little amused. Who would have thought that this gorilla also had a brain? Kinzie and Asha caught up with them.
Heavily panting Asha said. ''Thanks, Oleg.''
The giant nodded. ''No problem, Asha. I always like to help. What did she do?'' Oleg wanted to know and held Catwoman a little away from him, because she tried to scratch him.
''She tried to steal from us and now we are waiting for Boss to make a decision.'' Asha pointed at a room and a little later Catwoman was sitting on a chair in restraints. Kinzie, Asha and Oleg kept guard. There was no opening for Catwoman to escape. It seemed she was forced to wait for the Boss' arrival.
After a while Boss and Pierce returned. ''It is really Catwoman!'' Pierce exclaimed. When Asha told them, he initially didn't believe her.
''So, you tried to steal from us?'' Boss asked and sat in a chair across from Catwoman. ''Would you tell me what you were looking for?'' Selina stayed silent. Boss pointed at Asha who was still pissed off about Catwoman's dirty trick and spoke. ''I don't know what you did, but Asha looks pissed. If I were you, I would start talking or I don't see a reason not to stop Asha from fulfilling her violent fantasies.'' Boss said half serious, half joking.
''You obtained Penguin's jewelries when you killed him.'' Catwoman stated.
''So what?'' Boss said facing Catwoman again.
''Among them is a piece I want.'' She admitted.
''Are you kidding me? Just for a stupid bling you picked a fight with us?'' Boss asked unconvinced.
''I am a thief that is what I do. It is the 'soul of the puma'. I had planned to take it before, but Penguin snatched it away from me. Then you grabbed it. It belongs to me.'' Catwoman explained. Kinzie gave Boss a big sapphire.
''So just because you call yourself Catwoman? You think everything with a connection to cats belong to you?'' Boss asked amused. Selina just nodded. Boss began to laugh. ''I like your way of thinking.'' Boss complimented. He freed Catwoman from her shackles. ''I like you and it would be a shame to kill someone like you. Here take it.'' Boss threw the sapphire carelessly at Catwoman who caught it with surprise.
''What are you doing?'' Catwoman asked suspiciously.
''Giving you the damn thing. We don't have any real use for it, anyway. Just see it as a favor. But remember when we will need something from you will have to pay the favor back.'' Boss said.
''And your guys won't shoot me the moment I turn my back to them?'' Catwoman didn't believe him. Nobody would just let her walk away like this.
''Man, you are so distrusting. If you want, I can still order Asha to kill you.'' Boss offered.
Catwoman just put the sapphire away. ''I have to admit I am indebted to you, and I will repay it.'' Catwoman said, opened a window and jumped out in the night. Asha looked furiously at Boss then at Kinzie, but didn't say anything. She stomped out of the room. She was probably going to her training room to let out some steam.
''Man, Catwoman really pissed her off.'' Boss said shaking his head.
Hello, here is Jane Valderamma with news from the streets of Gotham. The popularity of the Saints is booming. There are even some who suggested that the Leader of the Saints should candidate for major of Gotham. For some even that is not enough. They want him as the President. Those voices are still few, but they obtain steadily more followers. The Saints aren't just some street gang anymore. They are celebrities. The 'Visagebook' page of the 'puckish rogue' has gained more than 1 million followers. A few weeks ago, it was still a little bit more than 100 thousand. The lieutenants of the Saints are giving autographs whenever they are seen on the streets. The police are trying to prevent such cultic following, but they didn't do anything against it, yet. The citizens of Gotham are celebrating the Saints as their liberators from the so called 'Super-villains'. I am Jane Valderamma from Channel 6 News.''
