His mind swam with images.

His mother and father smiling down at him. Her, always supportive and loving. He, both stern and caring at the same time.

Her pearl necklace shattering, the individual pearls clattering to the ground.

His father's soundless scream as the gunshot steals his breath from his body.

The bat breaking the window of the study in Wayne Manor.

Catwoman being charged with the murder of a security guard at STAR Labs.

Deathstroke landing blow after blow in Catwoman's apartment.

A Gotham PD Detective having his hand cut off by a delirious Deathstroke.

The Batmobile driving on autopilot....

....then darkness.

"Sir?"

Batman opened his eyes, thankful for the dim light. "Alfred?"

"Thank God, sir," said Batman's valet and confidante. "I was worried when the Batmobile signalled it was returning on auto recall." His kind face was looking over Batman's face. "Sir, you've certainly been into some fisticuffs....dare I say with whom?"

Batman tried to sit up, but the world swam and his balance was twisted. "Deathstroke."

"My word," said Alfred, "What has brought that mercenary back to Gotham City now?" Alfred was picking up several items outside of Batman's field of vision. "Never mind answering, sir, there are some wounds here that need tending. Just keep your head down and try to relax."

"Selina..." said Batman as Alfred removed his cowl completely. Then darkness enveloped him again.

Alfred finished his field dressing in the Batcave's medical bay and left Bruce to rest. Besides the obvious concussion and contusions, Bruce's knee was injured and he had several ribs that were likely broken. He would run Bruce through an MRI and X-Ray scan immediately to test for the extent of these injuries, but in the meantime there was another matter that required his attention. Tim hadn't checked in for the last half hour with the Batcave central communications hub. The activity log showed that he had been dispatched to the Gotham Airport to retrieve Will Magnus from DEO custody. The Redbird was still there, but Robin's personal tracking device was offline. Bruce was out of commission for now. Deathstroke was involved. He had only one option left.

He went to the Central Computer and put on a headset. He dialled a number and waited. An instant later, a familiar voice answered.

"Alfred?"

"Master Dick," said Alfred, "I'm afraid your assistance is required in Gotham. As soon as possible."

"I'm on my way," said Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing.

FAUX DC PRESENTS

#20

"HUNTING THE CAT - PART THREE"

BY CLAY ARCENEAUX AND MIKE HINTZE

"Babs, you up?"

Nightwing sped through traffic on his highspeed bike as he made his way from Bludhaven to Gotham City. An instant later, a familiar voice came back on the connection.

"Yeah, I'm here," said Barbara Gordon, aka Oracle. "I have you heading to Gotham...I assume Bruce called you about Deathstroke?"

"Alfred, actually," said Nightwing. "Bruce is in bad shape. Tim is unresponsive. Can you get a fix on Tim? I'm going to head straight for him."

Oracle paused for a moment. "His tracker is offline, but I assume Alfred would have checked that. Redbird is at Gotham Airport...I'm tasking a satellite now."

"Make it quick, Babs," said Nightwing. "I'm coming up on the Airport access in a few minutes."

"Patience, Mr. Grayson," said Oracle. "Tim is very capable. Bruce has complete faith in him."

"I know," said Nightwing. "That doesn't mean I stop worrying. Just ask Alfred. He's been doing that for years."

"I'm picking up weird radiative traces from one particular hangar," said Oracle. "Dick...they match the records I have for the freeze gun used by Len Snart...Captain Cold."

"Must have gotten bored harassing Wally," said Nightwing. "I'm on my way there." He throttled the accelerator.

"You're not Catwoman."

Robin struggled within the solid ice block that Captain Cold had created around him. Cold wasn't dressed in his usual outfit however, and neither was Cold's partner. Robin had heard the names Snart and Lawton mentioned, and now that he was up close, he chastised himself for not recognizing the latter sooner. Floyd Lawton was the criminal assassin Deadshot. Like Cold, Deadshot was dressed in an unassuming black suit with matching tie.

Robin had been sent by Batman to intercept the comatose body of Will Magnus, creator of the Metal Men and now one of them in body if not mind. Magnus had been attacked at STAR Labs Gotham by who many believed to be Catwoman. Batman had learned that Magnus was being spirited away by the DEO and their Agent in charge, a man named Dillinger. Robin had tracked them down to a specific airplane hangar at Gotham Airport, but was taken by surprise by Captain Cold and Deadshot. Now, a woman had appeared claiming to be Catwoman. Robin had met her a few times, and he could tell this wasn't Selina Kyle.

"My, you have an eye for detail," said Catwoman. "Why on Earth would you think I'm not who I say I am?"

"No point in arguing with the Junior Bat," said Deadshot. "The kid has a nose like his boss."

Catwoman looked disappointed for a split second, then began to change shape. Her form flowed and writhed as the texture and color of her body shifted. The form settled into another shape, still female in appearance if slightly disturbing to look at.

"Sondra Fuller," said Robin. "Or is it Lady Clayface?"

"Good memory," she said, "Lady Clay is fine with me. Sondra Fuller died a long time ago."

"Look," said Robin, "Whatever the DEO has promised or threatened to you, you can still do the right thing. Let me go, give me Dr. Magnus and we can part company."

"You have no idea what the DEO has promised us," said Snart. "You or the Bat couldn't possibly help us there. Just be thankful we have enough respect for your boss not to pop you right here."

"Why Catwoman?" asked Robin. "Lady Clay could have become anyone or no one if she wanted to. Why masquerade as Catwoman and then send Deathstroke to arrest her?"

"What? Is this the part where we break into a long monologue and explain the whole thing to the helpless captive?" Lady Clay snorted. "No thanks."

"Wilson has his job," said Deadshot, "We have ours. Now shut up before we change our minds about you."

Robin stopped talking. He had bought the time he needed. A flash of white light blinded everyone present as a thermite charge melted the ice prison around his body. At the same time, he tossed out gas pellets that clouded the area in knockout gas and put his rebreather in his mouth. A ray from the freeze gun shot past as well as several shots from Deadshot's weapon, but they all hit where Robin used to be. He was now a dozen feet away. He switched to infrared on his mask and saw the figures of Deadshot and Cold collapse from the gas. He saw no sign of Lady Clay.

Suddenly Robin was wrapped in a massive coil that seemed to shoot out of nowhere. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe. He heard the familiar voice of Lady Clay in his ear.

"I don't breathe anymore," she whispered, "I don't even really see the same way as you do anymore either. Your pellets mean nothing to me....and soon, all Batman will find is a runny paste where you used to be. You reminded me of who I was....for that, and screwing with my deal with the DEO...you die."

Her grip tightened further. Robin was starting to lose consciousness. Everything was starting to fade.

Two muffled explosions sounded and Robin fell to the floor. The smoke had faded and he saw two more small explosions hit Lady Clay. Her form was a spread out shape of muddy substance that surrounded the immediate area. Robin looked over and saw a welcome sight.

Nightwing was sitting astride his bike. He held 2 more batarang grenades, at the ready if they were needed. "You okay?" he asked.

"You bet," said Robin. "Nice save."

"No problem," said Nightwing. "What's the score?"

Robin brushed off bits of Lady Clay. They would reform soon enough. "Batman wants Will Magnus intercepted and in our custody. He hasn't arrived yet."

Nightwing looked out of the hangar door and saw approaching headlights. "Looks like he's on his way. Let's get hidden. Once they see these guys are down, we'll need to move fast." He kicked the bike into gear drove it back behind several crates. Then, Robin and Nightwing grappled to the ceiling, ready to pounce when their quarry arrived.

"Your men refused to fire on an illegal vigilante," said DEO Agent Dillinger. "That inaction resulted in my deputy being injured."

"Your deputy can kiss my fat, dimpled ass," said Detective Harvey Bullock. "I don't care how you cut it, deputizing Deathstroke has to be ten ways to illegaltown."

"You understand using outside contractors," said Dillinger. "You used to help run Checkmate, did you not, Bullock?"

"How the hell do you- " demanded Bullock. Gordon cut him off.

"Enough," said Commissioner Gordon. "Dillinger, you're lucky I don't run you out of town. I don't care what agency you work for, when an operation like yours threatens lives, especially my people, that's when I draw the line."

"Detective Hinckley...was regretful," said Dillinger. "Still, if you had all done as you were supposed to, he would still have both his hands."

"Oh, you son of a bitch," said Bullock, "I oughta- "

"Harvey," said Detective Renee Montoya, "Calm down. Let's get a cup of coffee."

"But I- " said Bullock.

"Now, Harvey," said Montoya. Bullock turned and left Gordon's office. Montoya followed.

"Gotham's Finest?" said Dillinger with a wry grin.

"Better than you'll ever be," shot back Gordon. "Now get out of my office. Your mercenary is being treated in holding below. Get him and get out before I change my mind about locking him up for assaulting an officer. We formally refuse any more federal assistance in the apprehension of Selina Kyle."

"You'll live to regret those words, Gordon," said Dillinger. "I'll have your badge."

"You're welcome to try," said Gordon. "Now, leave."

Dillinger walked out, slamming the door as he did so.

Damn it, Batman, thought Gordon, What the hell have you gotten me mixed up in?

Dillinger walked out of the Gotham Main Precinct followed by a bandaged Deathstroke the Terminator. A car was waiting for them.

"You going to be all right?" asked Dillinger.

"I heal quickly," said Deathstroke, "My ego...not so much."

They got into the car and it drove off.

"That detective might regain his hand back," said Dillinger. "Your blade cut it very evenly at least."

"I don't give a damn about some idiot detective," said Deathstroke. "He works in this city, losing a hand is a lucky break compared to the things Batman's usual perps do."

"Regardless," said Dillinger, "I need you to be more discreet, Colonel*. As you know, this operation isn't entirely as on the books as it is being sold. If Waller gets wind of it &"

(*a long time ago, Slade Wilson achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Rangers)

"I know," said Deathstroke. "You tell Bones I guarantee, next time, Batman won't be an issue. I may have gotten a few knocks last time, but he got more than a few."

"I'm calling to the airport to confirm Magnus' departure," said Dillinger. "Once he's away, we focus again on Kyle."

Dillinger listened to his cell phone. "It's me," he said. "What's the status of Magnus?" A pause. "WHAT??... Fine, fine. Clean it up." He hung up. "Damn it!"

"He's gone," chuckled Deathstroke.

"Our agents were ambushed at the hangar. No one saw anything. One second they were conscious, the next they woke up and Magnus was gone." Dillinger stared ahead into nothing. "Snart, Lawton and Fuller were taken out. Fuller...rather explosively."

"The Junior Bat," said Deathstroke. "I warned you he didn't work alone."

"He's just a kid," said Dillinger.

"I've got experience with a Robin. Trust me, they're more than a simple kids." smiled Deathstroke. "The big Bat collects them, so there may have been more than one too. Swing by my stash, I'll reload and track Magnus down for you too. Once you sign the change order to officially add him to my contract."

The car turned down a side street. Seconds later, the vehicle lurched as four loud bangs sounded. The car ground to a rough stop.

Dillinger yelled at his driver. "What the hell was that?"

"Our tires, sir," said the DEO agent, "I think they all- " The driver's window broke as the interior flooded with gas. Deathstroke kicked his door open and leaped out. Dillinger followed, but hacked and coughed as he crawled out and lost consciousness.

Deathstroke looked around the deserted street. The car's tires were all flat. The rubber of each showed a small batarang.

"Time for a rematch?" yelled Deathstroke as he put his mask back on.

"Like you wouldn't believe, Slade."

Someone swung down and kicked Deathstroke in the side of the head. As Deathstroke rolled and assumed a fighting stance, he saw his opponent a dozen feet away, ready to take him on. It wasn't Batman.

"Hello, Dick," said Deathstroke.

"Goodbye, Slade," said Nightwing.

Next Issue: "HUNTING THE CAT" continues....and just where in the world is Selina Kyle?