Gail “Agent Gail Coeval, F.B.I.  You’re under arrest, Miss Lane.  Drop the weapon.  Now!”

Kate can only assume that the men hired to guard the apartment, along with her man at the door were all disposed of by the gunshots.

Kate “Stopping me won’t stop us, Coeval.  We’re everywhere!”

Gail “I’m not going to repeat myself again.  Drop the weapon.”

Kate “Those are some tough boys out there.  Are you really sure you took them down?  Are you really sure you think you can just come in and-”

The glass of the nearby window shatters, getting Kate’s attention long enough to turn toward the direction of a pair of boots now coming right for her jaw.

The force of the kick sends Kate careening across the room, knocking the gun out of her hand as she crashes against the wall.  For Gail, Dot, and Steve, the whole thing is a bizarre moment in time as this red, yellow, and green blur of rage takes down the kidnapper and a blue and black blur now enters through the same window, rolling into action and untying Dot and Steve.

Gail’s body freezes up, watching everything suddenly unfold in front of her.  It is unlike anything she has ever seen before.  The one in red, green, and yellow is known as “Robin” and she is making sure Kate Lane is secured and ready for apprehension.  The other is known as “Nightwing.”  both are known as being part of Gotham City’s “Caped Crusaders” though Nightwing herself does not wear a cape.

Nightwing “Robin!  I think you’ve made your point!”

Robin “Kate…you’re an embarrassment to your family.”

One last slam of the cranium against the wall is enough to knock Kate out.  Both costumed female adventurers have literally crashed this situation and made it theirs.

This is their city.

Gail “Wait!  Both of you!”

Nightwing “They’re safe now, ma’am.”

Another woman now arrives through the opened front door of the apartment.

Renee “Montoya!  G.C.P.D.!  Hands up now!”

Gail “I think you’re a little late here, Detective.  Suspect’s down.”

Renee “I’m not talking about them.”

The one known as Robin stands next to Nightwing and smiles.

Robin “Sorry.  We gotta go now.”

As Robin talks, Nightwing throws some sort of small object down, breaking it onto the floor and creating instant smoke.  The fire alarm in the apartment goes off, along with the sprinklers.  As everyone else begins to cough amidst the confusion, Robin and Nightwing disappear into the Gotham City night.

Kate Lane however is going nowhere.  She is under arrest as Gail crawls over to check her pulse and handcuff her.  By the time the smoke clears, all that is left is Gail arresting Kate, Steve holding cover over a frightened Dot, and Detective Renee Montoya rushing to the window in time to see a flare go up, signaling the bat, just as before.

In The Black

In Washington, D.C., Sally Norris looks after her adopted daughter, Sara Lou.  While her wife, Sandra McLane is dealing with her Secret Service duties in Gavonia, Sally is back at home, checking her email as Sara Lou sleeps in her arms.  It is a delicate balancing act being able to check messages and whatever else online while holding onto a small child.  Sally however has had plenty of practice at it and is starting to consider herself something of an expert.

Her cellphone rings.  Sally is quick to answer it.

Sally “Hello?”

She knows the voice instantly.

Lady In Black “Miss Norris.”

Her room is dark as she speaks into her portable phone.  It is in stark contrast to the lit up apartment of Sally’s.

Sally “Is this who I think it is?”

Lady In Black “I’m afraid so.  I know I said after the marriage that I wouldn’t bother you or Sandra anymore.  The two of you deserve a good life together though I know she is busy handling a pretty big a assignment.”

Sally “Yeah.  What do you want?”

Lady In Black “I said that the only exception to the rule would be if there was danger ahead.  Miss Norris…there’s danger ahead.”

Sally “What?  Is Sandra in trouble?”

Lady In Black “Not Sandra.  You.  Well, actually your daughter.”

Sally takes a deep breath as she looks at her innocent child, sleeping in her arms.