“With a little quiet, girl. I’m the bird, remember? I’m supposed to be whispering in your ear.”

Dinah Laurel Lance smirked at the sudden silence as she stepped lithely onto the wire. There was only a moment’s hesitation as she found her balance, arms outstretched to find her center. Then she started off, stepping lightly at first but quickly picking up speed.

Beneath her the city street seemed almost deserted. A garbage truck ground its gears as it raised a dumpster on hydraulic pumps, the two sanitation workers laughing at some joke with the lone security guard who was supposed to be watching for things untoward. Things like her no doubt, walking a wire some sixty feet overhead between the Pyramid Club and its closest neighbor.

The wind whistled past as Dinah shifted her weight, hearing a blare of horns as cars passed further away on Fifth Avenue at the old, converted mansion’s front. She ignored the noise however, picking up speed the last few feet and actually leaping from the taut grappling cable line to land in a crouch beyond the short wall that ran the perimeter of the club’s roof. She landed well, curling tightly and controlling her breathing as she glanced about the rooftop-

“I’m in,” she whispered into the microphone pinned to her collar. It was a tiny golden bird in flight- probably a dove though Oracle had said it was a canary to match the earrings she wore, the tiny receivers. Modern technology was a wonderful thing, but still Dinah couldn’t help but wonder where Oracle had gotten all the things that she had provided for this little mission. The tiny radio set was nothing, you could get something similar at any good security shop in Manhattan, despite the unique shape and style. But there was the grapple line that was obviously one of Batman’s just short of peeling off the Bat Symbol and scratching through the serial numbers. Too, the Night Vision goggles that the other woman had provided were state of the art; streamlined and compact and had to cost thousands. Dinah knew that Oracle was rich off the illegal funds she had transferred from various accounts of drug dealers and gun runners, crime lords from all across the World Wide Web, but still…

Not that she was complaining, mind. Dinah could see the rooftop as though it were broad daylight, casting her gaze about. There was no flare even if she strayed too close to any light source, no hesitation waiting for the goggles to adjust. She could clearly see the roof’s defensive sensors, the simple air vents, the hut to the inner stairwell, everything-

Good, the voice crackled in her ear again, you’re in the blind spot and coming in clear. Don’t move…

Dinah stayed crouched, curled into a tight ball as she scanned the rooftop. Oracle was watching as well she knew, somehow tapping into the roof cameras of the taller buildings and transferring the images in real time to her computer monitor back at the Upper West Side apartment. The woman was a marvel, a genius with computers- something that Dinah had never had an interest in. Even with all she had been through lately, Oracle was just a much a hero as anyone in the League in her own way, her own right.

Dinah didn’t know everything about what had happened, though they had discussed a bit the night before when they had all come together to debrief after they had ran their assault on Blakewell Industries downtown. Dinah had not been in on that of course. She had been… shattered, both mentally and physically. It had taken Zatanna and her magician friends Constantine and Madame Xanadu to bring her back from whatever brink she had been slipping from, but they had. It was all a blur to her, almost like a dream that she could catch snatches of, the rest slipping away. Dinah could not remember what the three magic users had done to save her- not all of it, nor even enough of it, but whatever they had done, it had worked.

Dinah Laurel Lance felt fresh and clean for the first time in weeks, months. Her mind seemed clear and sharp, and her body rested and ready to go, no aches and pains at all. There was no exhaustion, and best of all the anger and despair seemed to have withered away to nothing. Well, next to nothing…

Ollie was still there in the back of her mind, a tiny crack in her heart. She still missed him, and she knew that she always would. She had loved the man, and he had loved her- they had been soul mates, she supposed. She missed him true, and it saddened her at times that she would never hear that grating laugh again, never see that cocky, arrogant smile, but it was not as overwhelming as she remembered it had recently seemed to become. The massive, crushing depression was gone, and so thankfully was the rage and anger that had grown from it.

She remembered times, yelling at J’onn, then just as quickly flirting with him to embarrass him. She remembered the brutality of some of her battles, the things she had done to simple thugs and mercenaries. Crippling things, degrading things that she would have loathed once upon a time. She had become little better than most of those that she fought, not even caring.

It was over now though, thank god- and her friends. Her very good friends-

Dinah flinched as the now familiar voice hissed in her ear again. She almost fell out of position as she looked about quickly to make certain that she had not been seen. She saw a shadow flitting about the stairwell hut and watched, the roof guard no doubt-

“I’m here,” she whispered, her eyes watching the shadow as it stretched out from behind the small building. “Sorry-“

“Got him.”

Dinah shifted position slightly, getting her legs under her, ready to spring. She knew that the security guard probably would not see her crouching in the blind spot in the shadows. She was dressed in her usual ‘working attire’, but she had donned what Oracle called a ‘Stealth Suit’ over her usual shorts and top. It was skin tight and dead, flat black, apparently designed to fool cameras somehow as well as heat sensors and such to a lesser degree. It was working well so far, allowing her to blend with the dark places on the rooftop, but it was stiflingly hot, and the fully covering facemask itched like crazy. She did not have a clue as to how the others managed in their masks.

Still, she was glad for the help. She had balked at first, flat out refused when J’onn and Marvel had suggested assaulting the Pyramid Club outright as they had Blakewell’s building downtown. That had been a failure for the most part, as Oracle had not found the information she had been looking for and Marvel had actually been accused of attacking Blakewell- at least until the ‘upstanding pillar of the business world’ dropped the charges, though he was granted a Restraining Order against Marvel and the League in general. Batman would be pissed. Only J’onn had had a bit of success in finding and shutting down Psimon, and for that Dinah had thanked him.

When the men had suggested their plan later however, Dinah had refused. J’onn and Captain Marvel did not seem to understand, at least at first, but Zatanna had, and after awhile so had Oracle. It was no longer simply about taking down Blakewell and his corrupt operations. Oh, that had been the plan months ago when Dinah and Roy had infiltrated his Pyramid Club for Checkmate that first night. A lot had happened since then however. A lot had been done to her; lies, assault, even mind control apparently. Through Psimon, Blakewell- Black Adam had played on her emotions and weaknesses to make her fall in love with him- or at least lust. All of that had been a lie, a seed planted in her psyche by Psimon and exploited by Black Adam Blakewell just so he could gain a foothold against the League. He had used her in the worst way…

No, it was no longer simply about putting a stop to Blakewell’s crime wave, Black Adam’s plots and schemes. That was why Captain Marvel and the Martian Manhunter were not allowed on this little caper. Oracle and Zatanna understood. Zee had been there before, and Oracle was there now. This was no longer about truth and justice. This was about revenge. This was about satisfaction…

	The World's Most Beautiful Crimefighter..... Birds of Prey!
Black Canary #12 - January, Year 3	by Curt Fernlund

Dinah Laurel Lance stood beside Zatanna and Oracle, watching as J’onn J’onzz stepped onto the small metal disk he had placed there on the rooftop of the Upper West Side apartment building. They had reasoned, with Oracle’s prompting that it would no longer matter if anyone saw someone teleporting in or out of the area as she would soon be closing up that particular safehouse- just as soon as Dinah cleared out. The Martian Manhunter had looked confused at that, wondering where Dinah would go then as she had quit the League just a short while before. J’onn of course had said that they did not accept her resignation at the time, and that odd, dumbfounded look took hold again as Dinah had explained that of all the things she had done in her… confused state, quitting the JLA was the one thing that she was staying with.

Ollie had been right about that. They were just too damn big.

“I wish you would reconsider,” he had said, stepping on the disk but Dinah had simply smiled and shook her head.

“You can put me back in the Reserves, J’onn, and tell Batman that means ‘in direst emergency’. I think he forgets that at times,” Dinah said, hearing Oracle’s snort-like cough. Even J’onn smiled. “Don’t worry, J’onn. Still friends?”

The Martian Manhunter’s smile widened as he nodded. “Of course,” he said, adjusting the controls of his communicator. It looked as though he had started to say something more, but just as suddenly faded away in a shower of sparks, back to the Watchtower. The three women waited for a moment, then Dinah went to retrieve the metal disk and shut it down. She glanced at her friends, her eye brows raised-

“Well?” she asked, and it was Zee’s turn to nod.

“I got it. Marvel never suspected a thing. Wisdom of Solomon,” she chuckled as she helped Oracle turn about to wheel towards the roof shack elevator. “It’ll take an hour or two to get a handle on the magic, but I can do it. I’ll be ready.”

Together the three women rode the tiny elevator back down to a lower floor, the one just above Dinah’s apartment. The roof elevator was one of the reasons that Oracle had first chosen the building, but she had never gotten around to extending the elevator’s access to the apartment. Now it did not matter as they would be vacating soon, and but for one jarring and bumpy ride down the tight flight of stairs with both Dinah and Zee helping Oracle maneuver the chair, it was the last time.

Back in the apartment Dinah had taken one last long look around. She would miss the place, as it had been the start of a new stage in her life, or at least she had thought. Now she was not sure. Had she been manipulated in that as well? She had no way of knowing, at least none as yet. If all went well however, she would…

“Coffee, Dinah?”

Dinah had blinked. In her daydreaming she saw that Oracle had already situated herself at the computer and was madly typing away, already on her mission. Zatanna was standing next to her with a smile on her face and a steaming mug of coffee in each hand. Dinah smiled, accepting with thanks. Zee sipped at her own as Dinah nodded towards Oracle-

“I see she’s hard at it already.”

“She has a lot to do,” Zatanna agreed licking her full damp lips. “I do too for that matter, so I better get to it. I have to get back to my apartment for a bit. Contrary to what John Constantine thinks of my magic, I do have a bit of skill in things other than ‘Backwards Babbling’.” Zatanna took another long swallow of her coffee then had stepped away from her friend.

“I’ll be back in a few hours, okay? You should get some sleep.”

“I will,” Dinah had said, and as if on cue yawned. She had been more tired than she thought after her ordeal.

“Good,” Zee had said with a smile, raising her mug almost in salute.

“!emoH”

And she was gone…

Now…

Dinah leaped out and forward as the security guard strolled casually within range. Her leather gloved hands braced on the gritty rooftop as she whipped her legs about quickly in a scissoring kick. Her left leg hooked at the man’s ankles as he stepped, her other leg slamming hard into the back of his knees. The guard grunted in surprise and pain as, already off balance, he fell backwards and hit the roof hard. Dinah was already moving however, using her own momentum as she spun, twisting about to drive her elbow into the man’s Adam’s Apple. He choked with the hard, fast blow and Dinah heard a gurgling noise as his head lolled to the side.

Quickly she grabbed hold of the guard’s armor and dragged his limp body back towards the slight wall surrounding the roof. She looked over his rifle and popped the clip of ammo from its housing, then planted the barrel to the rooftop and pressed with all her might. The gun’s barrel barely bent, but it did and that was enough. She checked the guard then, relieved to see that he was still breathing, though his breaths were sloppy wet and their was a froth of blood at his lips. Had her blow been a fraction harder she might have killed him, and that was not the plan. He was just a hired flunky and probably did not deserve to die for that. In the end she cleared his mouth then rolled him over binding his wrists to his ankles with cable ties. She thought about gagging him, but decided instead to disable his radio. Trapped here on the roof he could shout all he wanted to and it would be some time before he was discovered. Hopefully she would be done by then.

“Guard’s out,” she whispered, moving up close to the wall again. “How’s the defenses?”

Almost… Oracle replied over the radio. The woman had explained that she could take out the various defenses of the building in sections once she was in the system, rerouting the sudden changes throughout the club sporadically as to make it appear to be a problem with the power rather than an intrusion. All over the club the lights might flicker, the elevator lurch or televisions and monitors flash snow. It would take them some time to find the true source, if they ever did. As Oracle messed with the building’s security system she had said that Dinah would have short windows of opportunity to make her way deeper into the mansion. Ten seconds usually, sometimes more or less-

Go! Oracle shouted. Six seconds…

Dinah was up and running, racing towards the tiny hut that led to the stairwell. She slammed against the wall and braced in the shadows, waiting with seconds to spare. She could hear a metallic clicking sound coming from within the hut, and glancing at the keypad locking mechanism mounted on the wall she saw tiny red lights flickering as Oracle electronically picked the lock-

Dinah heard the electronic chime as the lock clicked open and was moving even before Oracle was hissing a countdown in her ear. She raced down the steps, pausing only a heartbeat until Oracle told her to keep going- faster.

Dinah thumped up against the wall at the bottom of the steps even as the overhead camera began to turn with a metallic whir of servos. That one had been a bit close-

“Any guards in the hall beyond?

No, Oracle said after a moment, but there’s only one camera and it’s mounted facing the door. There could be a guard at the far end of the hall under the camera out of my line of sight. This is Blakewell’s private floor I think-

“You think?”

That made sense, and Dinah hoped that Oracle was right. It would certainly make her job easier. She heard the lock on the door pop open-

Dinah took a deep breath and held it, waiting, listening. She could hear the slight footfalls on the tiled floor beyond, and now that the door had opened ever so slightly she could see movement in light and shadow flickering beneath the door. She braced, waiting, felt the door start to move-

Dinah shoved hard against the door with all her strength and weight. She heard a startled gasp beyond as the heavy, metal plated fire door slammed hard into the guard on the far side. Dinah heard him sprawl on the floor beyond even as the door continued to swing wide. He was dazed on his butt, shaking his head as though trying to clear it. Dinah would not give him the chance.

She kicked his rifle out of reach then leapt onto his prone body, straddling his stomach. She felt the warm gush of air that whooshed from his lungs with her impact as she had hoped. He was gasping now, his eyes growing wide as he struggled for a breath. Dinah slammed her fist into his face, hearing bone crunch in his nose and a resounding thump as the back of his head bounced off the floor. He fell back unconscious and his breathing steadied as the Black Canary quickly hog tied and gagged him with cable ties just like the guard on the roof. She dragged the bound form back the way she had come, into the stairwell and out of that camera’s line of sight then returned to the hallway, closing the door behind her. She heard the door lock-

There was another door at the far end of the short hallway. The walls were stark and gray, the floor tiled in the same color though she could see a bit of wear down the middle from foot traffic despite the sterile cleanliness. The camera mounted above the door was still and dark-

I’ve tapped the building’s security web, Oracle said barely missing a beat. Their radios show the positions of the guards and near as I can tell there’s none on the floor you’re on. No cameras either, so once you get through the door you’ll be on your own.

“Understood,” Dinah replied moving down the hall and starting to strip off the Stealth Suit. It was useless now, as were the goggles, though she let those dangle from her neck. She left the suit, stifling mask and all crumpled in a pile by the door as she undid the bobby pins that had held her hair down beneath the hood, fluffing out her golden locks. It felt good to be free of the suit and mask, but more importantly she wanted Adam to recognize her. She wanted him to know who was taking him down…

That Morning…

“It’ll take me awhile to tap the building’s security and transfer the data. I have to set up links here so I have quick access. It’s not hard or complicated, just time consuming.”

Oracle glanced up from her terminal to look at her new friend as a power bar slowly started to fill on screen. She was sure and confident, at least she appeared so, but Dinah knew that Oracle had been through her own slice of hell recently.

She did not know all the facts, but at some point Oracle had been exposed to the Scarecrow’s fear gas in Gotham with the expected results. Dinah had heard the gas was wicked, though she had never experienced it herself. She imagined that it was akin to facing down Count Vertigo in a way, so she could relate just a bit, but still…

She had heard second hand however that the gas had done something to Oracle’s memory. There were apparently large chunks of her life that she could not recall, for instance the tragedy that had crippled her. Zee said that Batman was working on restoring the woman’s memories- to a point of course, him being Batman. Apparently Oracle was getting back snatches here and there, but there was no telling when- if ever she would be totally back to normal. It was a tribute to her own resolve that she kept working on, struggling despite it all. The Black Canary was glad that Oracle was on her side and at her back-

“Are you okay, Canary?”

“Dinah, and yes. I’m fine…”

The Black Canary sipped at her coffee, waiting, hoping that Oracle might reciprocate and give her real name, but the red-haired beauty frowned and turned back to her screen with a sigh-

“I’m sorry,” she had said, and Dinah could hear the conflict in her voice. She was not ready. Dinah understood.

“Listen,” Dinah said, walking to the kitchenette and depositing her mug in the sink. “I probably should try to get some sleep before tonight. Wake me up if there’s a problem, or when Zee gets back, ‘kay?”

“No problem… Dinah.”

The two women shared a smile, then Oracle turned away again as Dinah disappeared into the bedroom. She closed the door and laid down on the bed, content. Her mind was clear and calm. She actually seemed relaxed.

She was actually asleep within minutes…

Now…

It was dim beyond the door, but not so dark that she could not see. The rich scent of polished cherry wood was almost overwhelming, and she could smell too that new carpet odor. There was a hiss in the background, and Dinah could see the flickering gaslight sconces turned low with just the slightest flicker of flame to light her way. The walls were paneled and lined with old, expensive-looking paintings, antique tables with Tiffany lamps and small statues chiseled in jade and marble. There was a centuries old settee near the grand stairway leading down to the club proper, and a huge African Fern billowing in full bloom despite the season stood on the far side beside the banister and hanging over the rail-

“Sorry,” Dinah said, focusing on the job rather than the décor. “I seem to be alone, but I can hear voices on the lower levels over the rail. I have three doors…”

“Thanks.”

Dinah moved to the first closest door. She stepped up, listening, then tentatively tried the ornate brass knob. It turned easily and she eased the door open-

“Bathroom,” she said, shutting the door again.

“Immensely,” she chuckled. In truth though she was scared spitless. Black Adam was one of the strongest men on the planet and deep down she was not sure if this would work. She had faith in her friends however…

“Next door…”

Dinah tried the handle again, and again the door opened freely. Blakewell apparently had great faith in his security. The room beyond was dark however, just a slight beam of light filtering through the heavy draperies covering the windows on the far side of the room. It was a bedroom suite it appeared, and just as ornately and richly furnished as the rest of the club. She saw more antiques and elaborate and expensive furnishings, but what caught her eye was the huge four-poster bed situated on the far side of the room- more appropriately the familiar lump of a body situated on the bed. She could see it moving about, but for some odd reason it did not rise. Dinah crept forward…

It was hard not to laugh, and Dinah had to bite down on her lip as she stared at the prone body of the Queen Bee. The woman was stretched to her limits, her arms and legs flung out and bound at wrist and ankle to the four corners of the huge bed with silken scarves. There was another scarf wrapped tightly about her face and separating her lips in a cleave gag. Dinah could tell that there was something stuffed into her mouth as well to help hold down her tongue and keep her quiet. Dinah glanced about the room a final time as she sat on the edge of the bed and ran her soft-leather gloved hand over the woman’s tight, sweaty belly. The Queen Bee writhed and moaned at her touch, her eyes wild as she panted through her gag, pleading for release. Dinah leaned in close and undid her gag, pulling the silken panties from her mouth-

“Please…” Zazala croaked, licking her lips and staring imploringly at the Black Canary smirking down at her. “Untie me! Quickly, before he comes back! He’s crazy! You can’t imagine what he’s done to me-“

“Oh I think I can,” Dinah said, her voice growing cold as she rubbed her hand over the Queen’s taut and trapped body. She knew what torture it was, and Dinah was quite sure that the woman deserved it, if she was here. The woman bound to the bed squirmed as Dinah ran her fingers lightly along her ribs, her moans growing louder, turning to whimpers of frustration as Dinah pulled away just short. “You were in on it all, weren’t you?” she asked, tracing a line between Zazala’s breasts…

“No…” the Queen whimpered as Dinah’s hand lingered between her widespread legs. “Yes!” she shouted. “God, yes, it was all my idea. I didn’t know what he was capable of though. I swear! Please…”

The Black Canary frowned as she heard Oracle’s voice. The Queen Bee definitely needed a bit of torture, but she was on a timetable after all.

Dinah glanced at her watch. Right on time…

Right on time. Dinah heard the explosions blowing open the front doors as she stood and leaned over the helpless body of the Queen Bee. She grabbed one of Zazala’s nipples and twisted until the woman screamed and opened her mouth, allowing Dinah to stuff the panties back in and resecure the gag. She stepped back, digging into her fanny pack for another borrowed item, though theses were taken on her own. She slipped the Sonknucks she had taken off Gizmo of the Fearful Five onto her slim hands, flexing her fingers and looking down at Queen Bee. Another explosion rocked the building-

“I’ve gotta go,” the Black Canary said with a conceited grin as she looked down at the helpless woman on the bed. She was pathetic, but whatever Blakewell had done to her Dinah was sure that it was no more than she deserved after what they had done to her. “Maybe Kobra will have a little sympathy, but I doubt it.”

The Queen Bee started to writhe about again, screaming into her gag, but Dinah ignored her pleas. She deserved whatever she got- even rape. The woman was a bitch, and if the situation was reversed she would do worse.

Another explosion as Dinah opened the door again and stepped back out onto the landing. Light and fire flared down below, and a second later the sprinkler system activated. The gaslight sconces glowed more brightly, and she could hear an alarm trilling in the background.

“Just a little insurance, Oracle. I’m not the only one Black Adam screwed over, so I made a few calls..."”

The Black Canary glanced over the railing and saw the soldiers of Kobra streaming through the front doors, mowing down the security of the Pyramid Club. The real cultists this time, and not Blakewell’s flunkies or drones of the Queen Bee. Blakewell had screwed them as well. It was only right that they got their piece as well. Not that she had a liking for Kobra of course, but it only seemed right.

Dinah turned, hearing the third and final door opening. She saw a woman staggering out onto the landing, half-naked but for the sheet she had wrapped about her as she made her way to the rail. She was beautiful, her red-streaked blonde hair tousled in wild disarray, her skin pale and void of the garish makeup that Dinah recalled from the last time she had seen her, when she had slaughtered so many Kobra Cultists and worse- her own people.

Her Meta name was Blaze, but she couldn’t remember her real one- her true name, not that it mattered. Dinah was charging forward even as the woman turned, her dark, smoky eyes growing wide as she realized that she was about to be attacked. Dinah leaped even as Blaze raised her hands to ward the blow, a slight lick of flame dancing over her smooth, pale skin.

Dinah spun about, kicking out as she whipped her leg around and drove the heel of her boot into the other woman’s mouth. Blood flew as Dinah completed the spinning roundhouse kick, arching up and flipping to land softly even as the woman twisted and stumbled. Dinah braced and drove the palm of her hand into the woman’s nose. Blaze grunted and flew back out of her satin sheet landing still and unconscious on the rich Persian carpet. If she was lucky she would have to get a bit of dental work and some surgery on her broken nose. Dinah glanced at the open doorway and saw Blakewell standing there in his boxer shorts applauding-

“Very good, Dinah,” he smirked, his clapping reaching crescendo before he lowered his hands folding his arms across his massive chest. “I do so love a good catfight,” he smirked all arrogance and power as he leaned casually against the door’s frame and looked her up and down. “You look well…”

“So do you Adam,” Dinah said with a grimace. That was part of the problem. With his slick black hair tied back and his muscularly perfect form wrapped in that tight olive complexion it was hard not to fall under his spell again. He was hot, but he was also a complete prick.

“Come for our next date then?” he grinned, his lavender gray eyes sparkling hypnotically in the gaslight glow. Another explosion rocked the main floor, a ball of fire rising up setting the rich velveteen draperies ablaze, scarring the expensive paneling. Adam shook his head regrettably, “And you’ve brought friends it seems. Pity, I thought I was more than man enough for you.”

“In your dreams, Adam,” she said, crouching ever so slightly, ready to attack-

“No,” he was suddenly beside her, her wrist yanked up and caught in his vice-like grip. She had not even seen him move. Swiftness of Heru-

“In your dreams my sweet,” he continued. “I’ve been there, remember?”

He was so smug, so confident. His smile was slick and greasy as he applied the slightest pressure and Dinah winced gritting her teeth to feel the bones in her arm grating. She moaned from the pain, a soft trilling sound as Black Adam laughed, twisting-

“It could have been different you know?” he said, driving her to her knees. He heard her cry out in pain, her whimpering growing louder and he smiled all the wider. “You are not unappealing. A bit pale for my liking, but you have good hips for bearing my progeny, and you truly do have the most fantastically perfect legs I have seen in my life.

“Unfortunately there’s that Hero mentality within you,” he sighed sounding almost disappointing. He heard her moans as her head lolled near his feet and he gave her wrist a sharp pinch causing her to cry out again, louder. He hauled her staggering back to her feet, her free arm hanging limply at her side.

“I had to find my entertainment elsewhere, thanks to the Martian, but the Queen Bee of Bialya was more than accommodating. She has pledged her dedication to my various causes in no uncertain terms. The peoples and resources of Bialya are mine to utilize; weapons, power, fodder. Couple that with the selected control of the Eastern Seaboards organized crime,” he said squeezing, tightening his fist, “well, I’m sure you get the picture.” Her body tensing from the pain, Dinah screamed louder-

“Unfortunately, sweet, pretty bird, you are no longer needed. Your insight into the League, the information you so selflessly gave that night at the 21 Club- with a bit of prompting from Psimon of course- is duly appreciated,” he grabbed her by the hair and almost tenderly raised her head. There were tears welling in her wide blue eyes, her full luscious lips quivering, her whole body seemed to vibrate-

“The dream however has passed-“ Adam winced, hearing-

Louder…

“Passed you…”

Higher…

“By-“

Even with the Swiftness of Heru, the Wisdom of Zehuti, the allegedly World’s Mightiest Mortal could still be taken by surprise. Marvel had told her that. For all that he was, Black Adam was still all too human, with human wants and needs, human dreams and awash with the Seven Deadly Sins. Arrogance, pride, Black Adam swelled with it to the point that it blinded him to the accomplishments and abilities of those he considered so far beneath him. His eyes widened in surprise when he finally realized what the Canary was doing. She was in pain, certainly, but she was not whining, not whimpering or crying…

She was screaming!

Her Canary Cry swelled within her, making her whole body vibrate with the power of her Meta. She had learned long ago how to focus the power, tightening the ‘beam’ for more effectiveness and greater strength, but since she had lost her ability so long ago she had thought that fine control gone. She had healed over the months, her Cry slowly getting stronger every time she called upon it, but she had yet to apply such precision and focus. She had never held the power in for so long, letting the song grow within her, building to a crescendo that surpassed even Black Adam’s ability to hear until it came back an annoyance. She focused that power down her body, through her arm and into the tiny, simple device that she had taken from Gizmo of the Fearsome Five. Psimon’s friend…

It seemed ironic somehow, and appropriate…

His grip loosened with his surprise, the Black Canary twisted her arm up and out, her sudden movement throwing Black Adam off balance. He stepped forward to correct his stance even as her free arm whipped up, her fist imbedded in the Sonknucks, crackling with energy waiting to be unleashed. Too late he saw the blow coming-

The Canary’s fist slammed dead on into Black Adam’s mouth. The force of her blow, a simple, driving roundhouse taught her by Ted Grant would have felled anyone, but with the vibrating sonic power of her Canary Cry focused into the Sonknucks, the impact was devastating. Dinah heard the sound of teeth shattering in Black Adam’s mouth. Blood spewed forth, hot and thick and splattering across her face and into her hair. His nose twisted oddly, blood and snot flying out as the force of the blow continued, spinning his head and staggering him back. Shattered metal flew out and away as Dinah spun with the momentum of her blow, her rage. Twirling about she saw Adam stumble back, dazed, finally toppling onto his ass on the intricate, lushly weaved carpeting.

She was breathing hard as she watched Adam. Her throat felt raw, ripped to shreds again. Her arm, both arms were throbbing in agony as he flexed her fingers, flicking away the last remains of the shattered Sonknucks. She knew that she had to move, had to press her advantage but the effort of her all out assault had taken its toll. She was exhausted.

Still, she staggered forward, her hand moving slowly, aching as she dug into her fanny pack. Digging for one, last weapon. Adam raised his head, his sparkling eyes bleary and trying to focus. He shook his head and moaned as his mouth rattled. Blood and spit drooled from the corners as shattered teeth tumbled free. He actually cried out as he tried to spit, to work his broken jaw. His nose was gnarled, already blue and swelling fast. Even with the Stamina of Shu, the Power of Aton it would be some time before he healed. Longer…

Dinah pulled the slim weapon from her hip bag, her leather-gloved fingers caressing the smooth ivory almost lovingly. She winced as she flicked her wrist and the straight edge razor blade sprang out of its housing, its steel blade gleaming hungrily in the gaslight. She stepped closer to Adam as he shook his head, his ears no doubt still ringing from the blow as well as her ultrasonic cry. She saw a trickle of blood ooze from his ear as he blinked, falling back, his balance gone. She held the blade out, turning it to catch the light, wanting him to see. He squinted, not understanding. Dinah smiled, whispering, her voice all but gone-

“!mazahS”

Lightning smashed through the ceiling as thunder slammed the building, shaking it to its very foundations. The straight razor acted like a lightning rod, drawing the magical energy to it with the promises of an old and wizened wizard. The Black Canary could feel the energy growing, building as she struggled to hold on to the ivory handle of the magical artifact. Zatanna had said that it was ancient when she had given it to her, tainted with the history of some of the vilest murderers of the past as well as the blood of thousands of victims. It had belonged to Jack the Ripper once upon a time, more recently to Gotham’s serial killer Zsasz, though he probably had not known what it actually was. How Zatanna had gotten hold of the thing Dinah did not want to know. Zee had ‘blessed’ it though, in her own unique way, imbedding a spell within with the unknowing help of Captain Marvel. A spell that would damage even the World’s Mightiest Mortal, permanently…

She did not have much time, the dying echoes of thunder shaking her and moving her to action. Adam was no stranger to magic. His powers came from a Wizard and he had been the ally of Nabu once upon a time before something had driven him to the dark side. His eyes grew wider still as he saw the crackling blade in Dinah’s hand. He tried to scramble back, to speak as she rushed forward-

“Sh- sh- zz…” he mumbled uselessly. Dinah kicked him in the face, knocking him flat before dropping down on him, straddling his chest. He spat blood and teeth as she settled, the smile on her lips now…

“It’s over Adam,” she said as she whipped the blade across his face, drawing blood. A scar that would not heal, cut by his very own magic. “You’ll never rape anyone again. Not mentally,” Dinah turned slightly, glancing at the door to the room where the Queen Bee was still captive, “nor physically.”

She shifted back as Adam struggled, realizing what was about to happen, what she meant. His eyes were wild with panic as Dinah’s leather-gloved fingers gripped the elastic of his boxer shorts and ripped them away. She laughed-

“Stamina of Shu?” Reaching down she got a grip, her fist tight as she pulled, making him scream. Music to her ears as she raised her hand, the blade gleaming, crying out for more blood-

“Kill him!”

Dinah turned as someone grabbed her arm, ready to attack, pausing in surprise to see who it was. He stood there in his golden armor, all his glory, the tattoos of his station and status just showing from beneath his enflamed cowl. His eyes were pale slits, his face a cool mask of hatred as he stared at her and Adam. It was the great Naga-Naga himself, the third most dangerous man in the world- at least by the Batman’s standards. Kobra Prime…

“Kill him,” he hissed as he held his scepter forward, his staff of power crackling with an energy of its own. “Kill him now or allow me the pleasure. He has used my most glorious name in vain. He has stolen from me. I reserve the right. Kill him!”

Dinah stared at Kobra, her own gaze fierce, determined. She could feel Black Adam squirming under her, in her grip. “I don’t want him dead,” she said, looking back at the man she had thought she had loved. She could see his mouth starting to heal, his nose already straightening as the swelling faded away. “I want him to remember me, every time he looks in the mirror-“ She squeezed her fist and Adam squealed in pain, just a man after all. “Every time he gets into bed.”

She glanced back, her long golden hair sticking to her face as she whipped her head around, waiting for Kobra. The world’s third most dangerous man finally smiled and nodded, releasing her arm. He bowed slightly, backing away-

“The honor is yours, Dinah Lance,” he said, turning for the stairs, hesitating though as his hand gripped the banister. “Consider my debt to Queen paid.”

And he was gone.

Dinah Laurel Lance, the beautiful Black Canary turned back to the man beneath her. His face seemed to ripple as he healed, but for that last scar that still bled. He grimaced, working his jaw. The spell was almost done and she could feel his power returning. He reached up trying to grab her throat, his fingers ripping at her hair-

“B-bitch,” he spat, blood foaming from his lips, his tongue raking over jagged teeth. “Y-you don’t h-have the b-balls…”

Black Canary laughed. She could not believe he had said that, setting her up. Courage of Mehen she supposed. She brought her arm down, the ancient blade flashing in one, swift slash-

“Neither do you.”

Black Adam screamed…

Later…

“I cannot believe you did this.”

Dinah Laurel Lance opened her eyes just a slit and glanced at Oracle as she sat in her wheelchair situated beside the huge bathtub. Her glasses were dangling from a slim chain about her neck, too foggy to see through in the steamy hot bathroom, a warm mist dampening the entire room. She was wiping condensation from the mason jar in her hand trying to get a closer look at the tiny bit of shriveled flesh that bobbed in the formaldehyde solution within. Dinah smiled, reaching for her glass of champagne situated on the edge of the slick tub-

“Just what did you think I was going to do, kill him?”

Oracle looked to Dinah, her lips turning down as she scowled, setting the jar on the sink’s countertop. Dinah sipped at her champagne, watching as the redhead pinched the bridge of her nose. She was quite attractive without those glasses.

“I can’t believe you called in Kobra.”

Dinah sagged, luxuriating in the warmth and sweet scents of her bubble bath. Her arms and hands ached, but the heat was taking away most of the pains from the fight. She considered herself damn lucky that Adam had not crippled her outright. Maybe he had cared, just a little.

“One thing I got from Oliver when he died was a little black book. I was just a bit annoyed at the number of women he had listed and rated, but he also had phone numbers of people that he had earned favors from over the years. I don’t know the specifics, but one of them was Kobra. Oliver wasn’t quite the liberal everyone thought him to be. He knew how to use the system.”

Oracle smiled, “You still have that little black book?”

“Maybe…” Dinah looked up at Oracle and saw a gleam in her eye. She could almost see the cogs turning in her brain. “What?”

“I don’t remember everything,” she sighed, pouring herself a glass of champagne and refilling Dinah’s, “but I remember enough. Before- before my life fell apart we were on the verge of starting something, something special. If you’re game, I’d like to try again. It’ll be hard- hard on both of us, but I think we can make it work.”

“Birds of Prey?” Dinah asked and Oracle nodded. “Why not? I’ve quit the League, so I have some time to kill-“

“You’ve still quit then?”

Both women looked up to see Zatanna standing in the doorway with a fresh bottle of champagne in one hand, a full glass in the other. She was half-dressed, among friends, wearing a short silk kimono and a pair of fuzzy blue slippers shaped like the Batman’s head on her feet. She strolled into the room and sat on the edge of the tub, setting the bottle down.

“Only in direst need, Zee, just like I said.”

“Too bad,” Zatanna smiled, her fingers flicking lightly in the warm, soapy water. “Batman will be pissed-“

“Screw him!”

Both Zatanna and Dinah stared at Oracle, mouths agape. They knew that she was close to the Caped Crusader, just not how much-

“Oracle,” Dinah said in mock astonishment and Oracle smiled-

“Barbara,” she whispered, taking a long drink from her glass. “My name’s Barbara Gordon-“

“I know,” Dinah smiled, watching a flush of red almost as bright as her hair creep up the woman’s cheeks, “I remember you, but we all have our secrets, right?”

Barbara Gordon smiled, nodding as Zatanna refilled all of their glasses.

“About time…”

“The offer’s open to you too, Zee” Oracle said looking at the magician, “if you want.” Zatanna smiled-

“Why not?” she laughed. “Sounds like fun. That is if we can work around my tour dates. I am a performer after all.”

There was an odd silence as the three women looked at one another. Dinah finally giggled, raising her glass-

“This isn’t going to turn into some Lesbian scene is it?”

“Don’t they wish,” Zatanna laughed, raising her own glass then, and finally Oracle smiled as well, following suit-

“To the Birds of Prey!” she said, clinking glasses with her friends as they echoed her words.

“The Birds of Prey…”

And life was good.

At least for a little while…

Next Issue: Well, there won’t actually be a next issue. This is the last issue of my Maxi-series, the Black Canary, and I do hope you enjoyed my run. I know I did. I got some kind words from a few folk, but I know there were some of you that hated the paces that I was putting poor Dinah through. Hopefully however everyone was satisfied with my ending chapter…

My prelude to bigger things- I hope that someone will pick up on what I’ve established here with Black Canary, Oracle, Zatanna, and even Black Adam and his new crime syndicate. I would love to see someone do Birds of Prey as a series, but if it doesn’t happen, so be it. If she sits around long enough, I’ll probably pick up Dinah again. I do have a bit more to tell about Dinah Laurel Lance, but that will be happening in the upcoming JLA #24, out soon…

Take a look, and let me know what you think.

As always,

Read…

Respond…

Enjoy…

It’s been a pleasure.

Curt

  Story © 2004 Curt Fernlund and may not be reproduced without permission.