[ Star City Police Department HQ, Star City ]
As the thief aimed at Thea, the pressure on her increase. But with her perception fully open, every movement from her opponent was crystal clear. There was no risk of blindly swinging; she could execute her techniques with precision and confidence.
Just then, Detective Lance's voice echoed from a distance, "Quickly connect the backup power supply! Groups One and Two, get the heavy weapons! The rest of you, follow me!"
The thief grimaced at the approaching footsteps of the police. No matter how good their combat skills were, they couldn't survive a barrage from over a thousand officers armed with rifles. Not even the Terminator could withstand that.
I thought this was going to be a simple job—come out, stretch my legs a bit, maybe have some fun. Now I'm stuck here with no escape route. They eyed the thin figure in front of them, unable to identify who she was. Someone this skilled should've had a reputation.
Thea, on the other hand, was equally irritated. Not only had the police lost face, but the entire event she'd poured days of effort into had just crumbled to dust. How could she not be annoyed? The figure in front of her was talented, but no match for her. Once the lights came on, flashy skills wouldn't mean much.
Both sides were fed up. Anger began to seep into their movements. Agile and fast-paced, their fight entered a deadlock.
"Snap." A flicker of light came alive at the side of the hall. Half a second before full illumination, Thea swiftly pulled back and blended into the crowd, adopting the guise of a graceful bystander.
She didn't want to reveal her skills. In a kidnapper's eyes, a weak socialite could be handled with a knife. But a trained fighter? That called for automatic weapons. Call it feigned innocence or strategic subtlety, Thea was committed to maintaining her image as a harmless little white flower.
As the lights spread across the room, Thea took a closer look at her opponent. Black tights, high-heeled boots, a butterfly mask, and seductive red lips under a sculpted nose.
Wait—is that Catwoman? What's she doing here? Isn't she Gotham's resident prowler?
Catwoman's glare bore into her. Thea might've blended back into the crowd, but traces of their fight lingered—scuffs, slight bruises, tension in her stance. Subtle to most, but not to someone like Catwoman, who made a living noticing the slightest details.
The hall grew brighter. Footsteps thundered in. Thea had maneuvered herself subtly toward the center of the hall, and now the place was packed with people. The nearest window was ten meters away.
Though not as specialized as vigilantes, some of the police officers were sharp and agile. A few had already clocked Catwoman's suspicious attire and were closing in, weapons drawn.
With Thea whistling softly in anticipation of a dramatic exit, a small cylinder came flying in through the window. It hit the floor with a bang—thick, white smoke billowed out instantly, cloaking the hall in confusion.
Smoke bomb.
Order began unraveling again. Fortunately, Detective Lance remained steady, yelling orders and commanding the officers to open windows and activate the industrial blowers.
As visibility returned, Catwoman was gone.
Oh no you don't. Letting her escape so boldly? Thea would never live it down. She saw bodyguards rushing to her mother, and with her mind at ease on that front, she made her way to Felicity.
"Turn up the city surveillance—track her. I'll go catch her," she whispered.
"She's on the street up ahead, about six hundred meters away," Felicity responded, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
How the hell is she that fast in high heels?
Thea slipped on her headset. "Find a chokepoint—somewhere she has to pass. I'll intercept."
Without using the main entrance, Thea opened a side window and bolted out.
It was already around nine in the evening. The city was cloaked in darkness, but Thea didn't fear being seen. Felicity, meanwhile, was already disabling nearby cameras to keep her off the grid.
"Turn left."
"Go straight for another hundred meters."
"Under the billboard, take a right."
...
[ Street Near Star City Police Department HQ, Star City ]
This was the first time she and Felicity had teamed up like this—and they were in sync. After a three-minute full-speed sprint, Thea finally intercepted Catwoman.
"Hey, are you Catwoman? What brings you to Star City?" Thea questioned, her tone a mix of suspicion and curiosity. Whether this woman had come for a leisurely visit or because Gotham's impulsive crowd planned to expand their reach into Star City, Thea needed to know. At the same time, she was trying to buy herself a few precious seconds—having just sprinted over, she was slightly out of breath.
Catwoman's expression soured. She studied the girl before her carefully, then muttered, "Thea Queen? Didn't expect some rich girl to have these kinds of skills. I'll never understand you rich people."
Thea blinked. There was an odd resentment in her tone. Was that about me?Why do I feel that she is not like that usually. Though Catwoman wasn't a hero, she didn't strike Thea as truly villainous. Her resemblance to Anne Hathaway's version of the character didn't help either—Thea's grudge softened slightly. Looks really do matter.
Still, someone this skilled was rare—too rare to let go without testing herself again.
"What's your goal here in Star City?" Thea asked again.
Catwoman replied coolly, "Just passing through. You're a little too paranoid, sweetie."
Thea frowned. The earlier chaos had dulled her senses. She hadn't been at her best. But if Catwoman wouldn't come clean, maybe a second round would change her mind.
Catwoman, meanwhile, wasn't thrilled either. Bested by a kid? I've been in this game too long to let this slide. Seeing Thea close in again, she prepared to retaliate—she'd teach this upstart some respect.
They clashed once more, three minutes later.
This time, Thea had fully recovered her vision and focus. No crowds. No distractions. Just skill.
Catwoman no longer felt the pressure of police pursuit. She responded calmly, drawing on her years of combat experience. For a while, they were evenly matched. Thea had superior perception, while Catwoman was a master of environment-based fighting, using every tree, sign, or the like to her advantage. Confronted by Thea's relentless assault, she relied on her years of combat experience to respond with measured caution.
Neither could land a decisive blow—until fatigue began setting in.
Thea started gaining ground.
High-heeled boots had finally become Catwoman's downfall. Her balance was still impressive—high kicks, flips, evasions. It all left Thea with nothing but admiration.
Still, Catwoman's breathing grew labored. Her footwork, once precise, began faltering.
You're close to your limit.
After all, she was human. If Thea couldn't win against someone in heels, what was the point of all Malcolm's brutal training or Lady Shiva's relentless drills?
She wasn't about to let that effort go to waste.
To Be Continued...
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[POWER STONES AND REVIEWS PLS