because i choose to thrive

[gevurah]

WHO: LIN BEIFONG and BATWOMAN
WHERE: a jeweler's shop
WHEN: night of 9/23
WARNINGS: violence & probably language
SUMMARY: unexpected team-up!
FORMAT: action deserving action


[ The Kaufmanns ran a small jewelry shop for over forty years in the City. They had never experienced any problems within the community or with their customers. In all those years, not a single thief had made his or her way into the building and made them feel threatened.

Tonight that changed.

Neither Mr. or Mrs. Kaufman had been quick enough to make a break for it or reach a phone (they were old and cell phones seemed "confusing"). They found themselves being held up by not only one man, but he had four accomplices. They targeted Mrs. Kaufman first, grabbing her and using her as hostage. Open the cases, deposit the goods, and we'll be outta your hair before you know it pops, he says.

He's got a gun pressed close to her and Mr. Kaufman obliges. He's warned not to trigger any alarms.

Two of them are guarding the back, just in case. One is outside, keeping a look out and the last is in the main part of the shop to ensure everything goes as planned. Hostage situations are never good, but Batwoman snakes through the shadows and closer to the back entrance as fast as she can. Nobody's getting away on her watch tonight. ]

Comments

[linsanity]

[Criminals sure are stupid. For all their meticulous planning, they hadn't really considered that someone could just look in a window and see the situation. Which is exactly what Lin did.

Going in through the front door was out of the question, so she silently sneaks around the side of the building, making sure to avoid the windows. She peeks around the corner and notices the guard at the back door. Easy enough. One cable around his torso and another wrapped around his mouth, and he'd be incapacitated.

She readies herself to spin around and take out the criminal, but then she notices a flash of something red out of the corner of her eye. Apparently she isn't alone in the shadows. She swivels toward the dark alley, her arms lifted and prepared to shoot her cables if need be.]

[gevurah]

[ She freezes, having not expected anyone else. The shape tells it's a woman and she looks much older than Kate-- but she's clearly not with this group.

She holds up her arms in mock surrender, though she motions to her lips to keep the noise level low. ]

You're not with them. Neither am I.

[linsanity]

[Lin's eye is drawn to the batsymbol on Kate's chest and she relaxes a bit. There must be a whole family of these crazy bat-people. Still, the blonde one may have been a smart-mouth, but she seemed like a stand-up individual. No reason to expect different from the redheaded version.

She nods in understanding, and mouths back:]

I've got this one. Get ready.

[And then she spins around the corner and fires her cables to ensnare the guard. Time was of the essence, and thankfully no one in the City was used to cables being used in place of guns, so it was unlikely to draw suspicion from inside. Hopefully.]

[gevurah]

[ Time is against them, so it'd be unwise to reject the aid of another. Whatever she was pointing at Kate, it wasn't a gun. As long as she doesn't fire any bullets or kill anyone... though she feels she can trust her.

The first guard is silence quickly by Kate. She covers his mouth and knocks him hard in the head. It'll buy them more than enough time.

As the second guard turns around, she's got her hands on him already. ]

[linsanity]

[Lin binds their hands with pieces of cabling in case they came to prematurely. Any guns or knives she finds on them get crumpled with her bare hands.

She quickly moves to the door, gripping the knob but not turning it yet. She turns back to Batwoman and whispers:]

I can disarm the one with the hostage. Cover me.

[She doesn't wait for an affirmative, and quietly opens the door and darts inside. Unfortunately, metal boots aren't the quietest when walking on a tile floor, but by the time the leader notices, she's already bending the gun right out of his hand.]

[gevurah]

[ There's a half-second pause watching this act take place. Clearly she's some kind of meta, but how did she do that exactly? Telekinesis?

No, no time to dwell on that.

This woman knows exactly what she's doing. Some training here. Has to be. She tosses one of her blades from her gauntlet toward the leader, who's too overcome by shock at the gun leaving his hand that he's not prepared to be hit in the face by something else. ]

Get down! [ She yells to Mrs. Kaufmann, who is more than happy to oblige. Batwoman leaps over one of the cases and slams her foot against his chest, leaving him sprawled on the floor. ]

[linsanity]

[These bat-people know what they're doing, she'd give them that. They moved almost like chi-blockers.

The two remaining thugs are moving in to deal with them, not realizing how vastly outmatched they are. One pulls his pistol, but a palm thrust from Lin causes the barrel to crumple. Lin's cable shoots out from her wrist, entangling him and then slamming him roughly into one of the walls.]

[gevurah]

[ She busies herself with the leader, pulling out handcuffs and an extra pair she dangles out for Lin. ]

You going to need these?

[ Her movements and that power is fascinating. She almost feels this woman could do a lot more damage if she wanted. ]

[linsanity]

[The final criminal gets smacked to the floor easy enough, and she begins to set to work binding their hands and feet.]

No. I always have plenty of cable.

Are the hostages okay?

[gevurah]

[ As soon as she's handcuffed the leader, she's approaching the elderly couple who are huddled to the side. They're shaken and still wary; these two women were clearly imPorts. They don't know who to fear more, the woman with the cables or the masked one. ]

Are you both alright?

[ She's gentle and keeps herself from intruding on their space. They need to breathe. She checks them up and down and when she concludes there's no bruises, she waits for their answer.

Quietly, Mr. Kaufmann says they are. Just still shaken from the whole thing. ]

They won't hurt you. I promise.

[linsanity]

[Lin approaches after dealing with the would-be crooks, her cables retracting into the spindles on her back with a metallic clink.]

I'm a cop. I'll call in backup to haul these idiots off. [She points to the badge on the front of her armor before whipping out her communicator and calling it in.

And then she turns to Batwoman, giving her a slight nod of respect.]

I guess you won't want to be around when they get her. [At least, that seemed to be how it usually went with vigilantes.]

[gevurah]

[ No cop she's ever seen before. Must be new. Someone worth keeping an eye on, too. The City needs more efficient law enforcers.

It's a strange feeling sometimes, entrusting a complete and total stranger. But she doesn't want the cops on her tail. ]

Experience with Bats?

[linsanity]

[She nods. The Batgirl she'd interacted with is still a teenager. At least the redheaded version seems old enough to drink. She knows plenty of competent teenagers, but somehow that fact makes her feel a bit better.]

The last one was blonde. Should I expect a whole colony?

[gevurah]

[ Oh, the chatty Batgirl. She wonders briefly what sort of impression she left on her. She also ponders the possibility that Lin's come across Max in costume.

She closes the pouch on her belt and stands properly to face her. She's taller in boots, but her posture is straight-- military-like. ]

Something like that.

[linsanity]

[Lin clasps her hands together behind her back. This bat-person was obviously more disciplined than her younger counterpart.]

I'll keep an eye out. Seems like you people have a knack for showing up where there's trouble.

[gevurah]

You have your duty, we have ours. [ She looks back at the couple, who are still seated on the floor and listening to this conversation. They seem less afraid-- curiosity flickering in their old, tired eyes.

She offers her hand to the them and the elderly woman takes it first. ]

[linsanity]

[Lin has to admit, she's a little impressed with how this person handles herself. If she wasn't dressing up like a bat at night, she'd probably make a pretty good cop. She moves to help the man, who reluctantly accepts.]

I'm Officer Lin Beifong. [Said as much to Batwoman as to the elderly couple.] If you two need anything, let me know.

[gevurah]

[ Mrs. Kauffman reminds her of someone from back home, so while retaining a distant attitude she still manages to be gentle enough to ease their worries.

Can't stick around though. She likes to make her exit long before she can be spotted. She lets go of the woman's hand and moves toward the back. ]

I'll leave the rest to you, Officer.

[linsanity]

[Sirens can be heard in the distance. This Batwoman would be cutting it close, but it wasn't like she'd be pursuing her or anything.]

Sure, leave all the paperwork to the person with the badge. [Sometimes she thought about putting on a cape just to get out of that part.]

[gevurah]

[ She smirks. ]

Paperwork doesn't suit me.

[ And she hurries out the door. ]