#7 - Rock and A Hard Place Pt. 2

[liquidsword34]

Ultimate Secret Six #7
Rock and A Hard Place Pt.2

January 1st 2012, 2:10AM, Gotham City


The Manhunter Kate Spencer hung upside down from a harness from an apartment building, something a young single mother and lawyer usually wouldn't be doing during the early hours of New Years eve. But in no way is Kate Spencer usual or normal. With one hand she held onto the window ledge to listen into the apartment and in the other gripped her bo staff. Despite dangling upside down seven stories from the pavement in freezing temperatures, Kate stayed focused on her target. Having been in the same position for almost half an hour, most would be feeling uncomfortable, inpatient or in pain, but Kate had been taught by the best; Jim Gordon.

Between an hours run everyday, kick boxing classes and a healthy diet, Kate was in close to the best physical condition she could be in, and definitely good enough condition to fight the average Gotham criminal. Kate's light brow hair was tied back in an unflattering ponytail to keep it out of her eyes, hurriedly done on the way out of the house.. Her main reason for becoming a vigilante had been to try and create a better world for her son to grow up in. Since her divorce her time when not at work alternated week by week, between being a mother and being a vigilante. It was a difficult but necessary balance as Kate couldn't leave her six year old son in the house alone at night to fight crime.

Kate wore a pair of gauntlets with a built in GPS and sharp claws used for climbing buildings (And in some cases, as weapons). These had been given to Kate by Watchtower, who in turn had recovered them from a now dead thief that hadn't connected his hands to the gauntlet properly, causing him to fall six stories as he attempted to leave the scene of his latest crime. The staff was made from the same type of aluminium as a baseball bat and in three sections which could be flailed around independently if needed. The staff could fold up to around a foot long, and at the press of a button spring out into a full sized five foot staff. Easy for concealment and surprise attacks. Kate had custom made the staff and it was only her second time using it, but she was already proficient in its use.

The orange bodysuit Kate wore covered her entire body, from her feet to her hands, along with a matching face mask to hide her identity (As a lawyer, it wasn't rare for Kate to knock out a criminal one day and be trying to prosecute them the next). As with the gauntlets, the suit had been recovered from criminals. More precisely, a prototype suit for the Cyber Initiative Kate had recovered in Bludhaven after a gang war of some type. After a bit of tinkering, Kate managed to repair the suit. While wearing it Kate became faster, stronger, more agile and strangely, healed faster than normal.

Kate listened intently into the apartment, gently pressing her ear up to the closed window with black drapes covering it from the inside. Somebody coming in. Slowly, stumbling even. Then taking off his shoes. Boots of some sort. And a heavy coat. Kate heard them sit down on a sofa and switch on the TV. No conversation, just one person wandering in alone drunk.

Kate put her hand against the window and pushed away from the building while extending out her staff. With perfect coordination Kate pulled off her harness and slammed the staff into the window, shattering it. Kate span around in the air, making sure to make a show. Not for her, for her target. A twenty-eight year old woman in an orange jump suit simply isn't that scary, so Kate always made sure to put in the extra effort.

The few seconds her target spent being frozen in surprise were more than enough for Kate to crack him across the face with the staff, causing him to drop his beer bottle and fall off the sofa, clutching his nose.

"What the fuck was that about you crazy bitch!?"

"Tommy Monaghan?"

Tommy froze, still clutching his nose.

"Wh...who are you?" he yelled back.

"I am The Manhunter. I've come to clean up this city, starting with murderous scum like y..."

Kate was cut off by Tommy diving at her and slugging her in the jaw. Tommy had never been the best fighter technique wise, but he packed a punch well enough. Kate stumbled back but kept her balance, retaliating by swinging her staff downward at the back of Tommy's knee hard enough to floor the hitman.

"Am I intruding?"

Kate spun around to see Catwoman perched in the window she had broken through, her claws sharpened and ready to strike.


---


Across the city...


David Zavimbe and Val Armorr walked side by side through Gotham's industrial sector. David had added a domino mask to his formal wear and taken off all his jewellery except a locket with a picture of his family. Trash crackled and rustled under the pairs feet and the cold gripped their faces tightly until they went numb. The two had only been walking for ten minutes or so but already they felt tired. Lingering doubts about the Karate Kid remained in David's mind, but at the same time everything he said seemed plausible or true. Receiving a text about his home being burgled was the straw which broke the camels back for David and made him willing to work with Val.

Val led David through the space between two factories and through a passage way, eventually reaching a ladder.

"We go up here," Val started, "then we can get the drop on them".

"Look" David said, moving between the ladder and Val. "I've gone along with this for a bit but...you're crazy. How do you know Bane's here?"

"I saw him get taken, before I met you."

"So, why didn't you just get him then?"

"Why, so you wouldn't believe me and I'd have to do it alone?" Val chuckled like it was the most obvious thing in the world, to David's disbelief. Val seemed so relaxed about it all, so sure. The two clambered up the ladder to the dark rafters of the former steel works, infested with bats and pigeons. David and Val crouched down and tried to move as quietly as possible as the buzz of conversation echoed through the rafters from below.

"Come on, we got that rock and sent it off so..."

"We don't shoot him yet".

David and Val peered down through a gap in the roofing to see Bane hanging by his wrists from a chain down on the factory floor. The entire area had been stripped down years before leaving just a few disused containers and a strong smell of burning rubber. A trio of suited gang members stood around him, looking at the hanging masked man. One simply stood silently checking his phone, while the other two argued loudly.

"But why do we godda..."

"Because we don't kill him until we got told to".

"But we..."

"When that fat lump Whale says to shoot him, we kill the luchadore freak. Until then, shut up".

Bane sighed out loudly in boredom, like the whole situation was an unwanted intrusion on an otherwise relaxing day. Clenching his teeth, Bane managed to lift himself up using the chain and boot one of the arguing henchmen with each foot. The third gangster turned, drawing his pistol towards Bane. Before his finger could press down on the trigger, the gangster received a bullet to his knee, causing him to drop down to the floor screaming out wildly. Prometheus strolled out from the shadows, sharing a quick laugh with Bane.

"How did you know I was there?" Prometheus asked while using his sword to slice through Bane's restraints.

"I didn't, I was actually counting more on our two friends up in the rafters" Bane replied while staring up at David and Val. "Guess i got lucky".

The pair scurried through the gap in the ceiling and down one of the metal support beams like trained monkeys as Bane and Prometheus looked on bemused. "How did you know we were there?" David called to Bane while striding over.

"Your locket", Bane pointed to a locket hanging from David's neck. "It hit something while you were up there, gave away your position. You should consider removing it next time."

"Thanks for the suggestion," David muttered while wiping dust off his tux lazily, slightly angry at Bane's suggestion. The locket contained a picture of David's wife and children, to him abandoning it would be like abandoning them.

Bane turned to look at Val, taking in the Karate Kid's strange attire before looking back to David. "Who's this, and why are you two even here?"

"It's a long story".


---


Back at Tommy's apartment


Selina took to the air and slashed at Kate's chest with her claws, not even making a mark on Kate's suit.

"You really thought I wouldn't work it out?" Selina cockily taunted while withdrawing her whip and swinging it at Kate's feet. Kate responded by jumping over the whip and driving her staff into Selina's ribs.

"Work out what, that your friend here's murdering scum?" Kate called back before sweeping away Selina's leg, putting Catwoman down onto the hard wood floor. "Now Tommy, where were we?", Kate casually turned back to Tommy, who was frantically searching his coat. Tommy found his gun and went to aim it but received Kate's staff being pushed against his throat horizontally, slamming him into the wall. "Fancy a trip down to the police station?"

"I'd prefer not!" Tommy yelled out while slamming his knee into Kate's gut and then cracking his pistol against her jaw. "Selina, who the fuck is this crazy girl?" Tommy roared while Kate crumbled to the ground.

"Not sure, but she's after that stone you got from Africa," Selina lashes Kate with her whip to keep her down. "Find it, now." Without any further questions Tommy flipped up the cushion on his sofa and grabbed the blood red stone.

"Stone?" Kate muttered through a mouthful of blood as Selina stood over her. "I don't know anything about a stone, I...I hunt criminals." Kate felt at Selina's mercy, cursing herself for not planning better. Kate's files said that Catwoman operated so far away from Monaghan she hadn't even considered that Selina might "swing in".

"You...you're not here for the stone?" Selina mumbled, hearing the sincerity in Kate's voice.

"I don't know about any stones!"

"Ah...Tommy, I think we'll have to leave". Selina yelled while running to Tommy's door. "I think that this woman isn't the one after our sto..."

Selina was interrupted by Tommy's front door being booted off its hinges by a masked man, wielding a broad machete in his huge hands. Selina recognised him as Massacre, Edward Nigma's former lieutenant and the killer of Bat-Wing's family. As well as his usual boots, combat pants and t-shirt, Massacre had that day donned a long coat, presumably to hide his weapon. In the few seconds it took Selina to recognise Massacre, the huge swordsman had strode across the room and slashed her across the shoulder.

"It's good to see you again" Massacre snarled to the wounded Catwoman. "You, madam, I am not so familiar with," Massacre grabbed Kate by her hair and lifted her up from the ground like a rag doll. "So I see no reason to waste time". Massacre winded back his sword wielding arm back, preparing to decapitate Kate. Massacre was interrupted by a bullet hitting his shin, tearing through flesh and bone. Massacre didn't drop to the ground, but it gave Kate chance to slash the mercenary across the chest, tearing through his t-shirt.

"Feel free to thank me" Tommy yelled to Kate while helping her up. He considered finishing Massacre, but decided against it. Even on New Years, a dead body in an apartment wouldn't go under the radar. Tommy's time spent thinking was to his detriment as it allowed Massacre to rise up and head butt Tommy in the chin.

"I don't remember you being that capable" Massacre whispered to Tommy while tossing Kate aside. Massacre kicked away Tommy's gun before reaching into his pocket and taking out the stone. "I really do wish I could kill you but I was only paid so much, and if I start working above my pay scale it sort of..devalues me." Massacre chuckled while sliding his machete back into its sheath. "I may be seeing you guys around" Massacre quipped while booting Kate in the gut, not doing much in the way of damage due to Kate's bodysuit but keeping her down. "I've got some more business to attend to in Gotham".