The following night
Saturday

"Have fun Batman, you too, Catwoman!"

I was certain that Kick-Ass was laughing as he dropped us off in South Chicago, beside an alleyway, before speeding off in Iron Hide. It was very, very dark and quite cold, too. We were very much alone and it felt like it. I looked at Bruce – oops; Batman, who just shrugged his shoulders and we ran down the alleyway, trying to make as little noise as possible.

There was something, in the back of my mind, that told me it was all a setup, so I decided to try to hide from Mindy. I had done my research has on the area, so I led the way up a fire escape.

They thought that they were alone, but the reality was far from it.

I was a bitch; my alter ego was even more of a bitch, but I cared about those that I trained. It was 'all hands on deck' that night. Marty and Abby were in the Command Centre along with Cathy and Paige. Kick-Ass and Petra were trailing Bruce and Selina. On the other hand, should I say: 'Batman' and 'Catwoman'?

The rest of us were preparing ourselves for a night of fun and games, plus some serious training of course! We had a lot planned for our newest vigilantes. Their comms were isolated from everybody else, but we could hear everything that they both said in the Control Centre. We could also follow their movements on the large screen.

Currently, they were near the South Branch Chicago River on South Halstead Street and both still together. Their very first test was closing in on them, as I watched a silver dot loiter a few hundred yards away.

It had been half an hour since we had been abandoned.

We were hiding in the shadows of a large building, catching our breath. We had run an erratic route, hoping to throw off any shadows. Suddenly a bright spotlight switched on and I heard an engine revving, then saw some blue flashing lights. It was an unmarked Police SUV, skidding to a halt. The doors opened and two men jumped out.

"Stop, CPD!" A male voice shouted.

We ran!

"That was easy!"

I laughed as Fellowes stared into the camera mounted on the SUV's dashboard, his pistol by his side.

"Keep 'em runnin'!" I replied before turning to the mat.

"Let's roll!"

The four of us mounted our motorcycles and Marty flicked the switch for the large armoured door that led to the vehicle ramp.

"You lead, Shadow – I'll follow the little cunts!" I growled.

"Funny, bitch!" Wildcat laughed as she pressed the starter on her, Ducati Hypermotard motorcycle.

I had bought three machines, identical except for the body shell colour. The frame was silver; the dual-purpose tyres were mounted on black wheels. Wildcat's machine was brown with silver trim and with the licence plate: 'WILD ONE'. Trojan's machine was green, with silver trim and with the licence plate: 'VALIANT'. Splinter's machine was black, with silver trim and with the licence plate: 'DEMON'.

Splinter was already out on the streets, with Mist. We powered up the ramp and out into Chicago.

"I have them!"

"So do I, Splinter!" I replied.

I led the way on my Streetfighter 848, with Splinter to my left and behind. Our HUD showed the fleeing vigilantes. They were on South Canal Street. We closed and then separated, coming back in a pincer movement, our lights off.

I saw Catwoman dive off to one side as she heard our engines. Batman was not far behind as Splinter and I sped past tossing a flash-bang each. They exploded seconds later and I yelled out...

"Fucking bastard!" I had felt a bullet hit my back armour, on my left shoulder blade.

"It was Batman!" Splinter called, sending three bullets back down the street – aimed to miss, of course.

Chloe was checking over Curtis' motorcycle.

We had just changed into our combat suits, just leaving masks, comms and gauntlets until we were ready to leave. Chloe frowned and went over to my motorcycle; she bent down and examined something under the fuel tank before standing up.

"The fucking bitch!"

"What?" I asked.

"Curtis' ECU is not limited – however yours is!"

"The fucking bitch!" I echoed.

I did not trust Wildcat.

Earlier that evening I had caught her and Shadow up to something in the workshop. Both had hid whatever they were working on and tried to look innocent as they both span around to face me. Neither had their masks on, but were suited up. I glared at Wildcat, who just smiled sweetly. Curtis had been there too, but he did look innocent and probably was.

"Not buying it!" I had growled and walked out of the workshop.

I knew that Shadow had helped Wildcat remove her speed-limiter. I knew that she would, or Wildcat would have found a way. The joke was on her though – there was a backup ECU, which was hidden and which was designed to override the primary ECU when necessary.

Was I devious? I was Hit Girl!

Why no control over Trojan? Oh yes, Curtis and his alter ego, Trojan, were very brave and he had a lot of courage, but he was also more cautious and would stop to consider things before diving in headfirst like Megan or Chloe might as their own alter egos, Shadow and Wildcat! I had not limited Splinter's motorcycle either.

I watched the two younger vigilantes like a hawk; their safety was my primary concern, especially as the night was for fun, not for serious action. Training was not a time to risk life and limb. Some may be surprised to hear me say that, but I was changing with the times – Hit Girl was a Mom, after all!

I was also silently crapping myself; there was less than a week to go. Was I ready? I always thought 'cold feet' was a myth, but damn if I was not getting 'cold feet' and not because of Dave, because of me...

"You okay, Nala?" I heard Wildcat ask.

The bitch had been calling me that ever since the previous night; apparently, Dave was Simba!

"That does not mean that Shadow and Jackal are Kiara and Kovu!" I growled back. "Mind you, Wildcat, Trojan and Splinter would make a good, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed!"

There was no response from Wildcat, but there was one from Lynx: "Does that make Rhino, Mufasa?"

"I heard that!" Rhino commented.

"No – I think he's Rafiki!" I quipped with a laugh.

I was getting tired.

Every time that we tried to rest, something happened. First the Cops and then the two assholes on the motorcycles throwing flash bangs! I had a feeling that I should not have shot at them, but what the hell, I was not about to be attacked and not respond. Catwoman was equally annoyed and she was muttering obscene things over the radio. At least it kept our spirits up.

"Young meat!"

I heard the voice close behind me, span around and raised the Jō-staff into a defensive position. That was good as a baseball bat soon came downwards and struck the Jō-staff, almost taking it out of my hands. There were two of them and they were large.

"I'll take the dick on the right!" Catwoman growled.

Neither of us hesitated, but dived in. The two men were good, but either they were not really trying or we had the edge; I was not very certain which! I felt a bat hit me on my left arm, so struck the man hard on his right arm; he yelled out in pain.

"I'll fucking do you for that, vigilante scum!" The man yelled, as he struck harder, and harder with his bat.

I struck back, as hard as I could, including a few kicks, too. I could see Catwoman faring well against her man, who was soon on his knees. Then we heard a siren and an unmarked Police SUV came hurtling down the street.

It was time to leave, so with one more crack of the Jō-staff, we broke off and ran.

"Fucking cunts!" Detective Olinsky growled as he pulled off his mask and rubbed his right arm.

"That was awesome!" Sergeant Voight growled, getting his breath back.

"Fucking pansies!" Sergeant Murphy laughed.

"You try being bait next time, asshole!" Olinsky laughed.

An hour later

"Got him!

Lieutenant Marcus Williams lowered the Taser and gazed over to his partner, Sergeant Vicky Richards. She was holding another Taser, which was pointed down at the unconscious female vigilante.

"Well that fucking creep wanted us to capture some vigilantes..." Vicky announced with a grin.

"Like taking candy from a baby!" Marcus laughed.

"Is that so, fuck ass?" I called out from part way up a fire escape.

"Huh?"

"You heard me, cunt!" I responded. "Let them go, or face the consequences!"

"Go fuck yourself, crazy purple bitch!" Vicky yelled back with a smirk.

"Who the fuck asked you, tramp?" Petra yelled at Vicky.

'Careful!' I thought.

I jumped off the fire escape somersaulting through the air and landing on my feet a short distance from Marcus. Petra landed beside me. We had to make it look good. We wanted to make it look like Marcus, along with Vicky had caught a pair of vigilantes and then the evil Hit Girl had taken them back!

The Tasered vigilantes were recovering and when they both tried to stand; they were kicked down again by Marcus and Vicky.

"You're gonna fucking regret that..." I growled.

"You'd never hurt a Badge; we know you!" Marcus responded, grinning.

Devious bastard!

"Depends on your definition of 'hurt', doesn't it!" I replied.

"Fuck this!" Marcus growled and flicked open his ASP baton before firing off the other charge of his Taser at me!

"Taser's don't work on our armour!" I said smugly.

"But these do!" Vicky said as she pulled the trigger on her pistol three times.

I fell backwards as the three .40-calibre rounds slammed into my chest and I hit the ground.

"Fuck!" I yelled – that fucking hurt!

Petra engaged my assailant with one of her Tactical Katana Swords. Vicky was ready and deflected it with her own ASP. I jumped up, deflected Marcus' ASP with my right arm before punching him in the right shoulder with my left arm, and followed up with a kick to his stomach.

That had to be the first time that I had ever hit Marcus, let alone used anything 'Hit Girl' on him! He grunted and dropped to the ground, pretending to be hurt. Vicky span and struck Petra across the left thigh with her ASP; I heard a muttered expletive from Petra, who then hit her mother a little too hard in the chest, putting her down to the ground. Jackal pulled Batman on behind him, while Shadow seized hold of Catwoman.

They both accelerated away, followed by Petra and me.

"Bitch!"

We both said the same word at the same time and laughed.

"It was supposed to look real!" Vicki announced with a grin.

"Felt real!" I groaned.

"Get a grip, old man!" I heard a certain young lady call over the comms.

"She's gonna pay – I promise you that!" I promised.

"Not having a good night are you?"

I stuck a single finger up at Jackal as we were abandoned again in another part of Chicago.

"Let's move, Batman..."

We had not gone much more than about forty yards when all hell broke loose.

Two people were waiting for us; it was a fucking set up!

"Batman, on your left!" I yelled out.

Batman lashed out, catching one of the cunts in the side, causing him to grunt in pain. I span around, catching the other assailant around the head, putting them down. Only they did not stay down, they flipped back up again and I was kicked down, hard.

They fell right into Alfred's lap as he blindsided Batman, kicking him to the ground.

Mathilda took down Catwoman without much effort and both vigilantes found themselves bound and facing the two black clad individuals. Both wore voice-changing masks, so that they could interrogate the fallen vigilantes without revealing their identities. It was not going to be pretty.

I watched as both vigilantes were dragged off towards Safehouse K.

"Who the fuck are you?" The man growled.

"You worst fucking nightmare!" I growled as menacingly as I could, looking over at Catwoman.

"Don't look at the bitch!" The man roared and I flinched away. "Look at me!"