Electra's Web

CHAPTER SIX: A DARK NIGHT IT was the break Batman had been waiting for. The alert came as he was on patrol no more than three blocks away. The high-security vault of McAndrew's Diamond Merchants had been breached and the gang were in the process of ransacking the contents. He was on the scene in less than three minutes - just in time to see two burly men loading their haul into the back of the getaway van while another waited inside with the engine running. He peered down from his vantage point on the roof of the adjacent building high above them and waited for the precise moment to pounce. One by one the raiders slid the black storage cases into the van with practiced ease hardly a word exchanged between them. Finally - just as the last case disappeared inside - the Caped Crusader made his move. He dropped down landing behind the two raiders with a thud. "Hello gentlemen," he said as they wheeled round with a start. The wheels of the van squealed on the road sending up a flurry of smoke and it lurched forward. But before it could pick up any speed the Caped Crusader had unhooked a Batarang from his belt and sent it spinning towards the back tyre. It slashed through the rubber, bounced off the tarmac and then scythed into the opposite wheel. The van skidded and hammered into a lamppost before teetering wildly and then crashing on its side. The two raiders looked on aghast too startled to move. In a flash Batman was on them. His fist shot out and caught the nearest one with a glancing blow which sent him spinning to the pavement while the Caped Crusader's leg swept the other's feet from under him in one smooth motion. Batman followed up with a roundhouse kick to the face sending the man onto his back. "One more move and you're both finished," he warned as he strode over to the van to check on the third raider. He was no more than half-way there when it came spinning at him out of nowhere - so fast he didn't even see it coming. His own Batarang cannoned into his head sending him stumbling sideways. "Ugggghhhhhh," he grunted in a mixture of shock and pain. As he reeled a figure came somersaulting at him in a wild blur. The feet connected solidly with his chest sending him staggering backwards. The figure stooped to pick up the Batarang from where it had fallen while Batman tried to regain his balance. Just as he did so the metal Batarang swooshed through the air again - this time slicing over the bridge of his nose and its jagged sides cutting into his eyes. "Aaaaaaaggggggghhhhhhhhh," he screamed as blood began to spill down his face, His hands shot instinctively to cover his now stinging eyes. If he'd been able to see at that moment his vision would have made out the leather-clad form of Electra sauntering towards him with an evil grin on her face. But in his stricken state he could make out nothing. Especially not the fist that crashed into his stomach with unrestrained glee nor the follow-up punch which hammered into his face. Or the vicious, swinging kick that cannoned into his testicles and brought forth an agonised scream before the muscular crimefighter folded onto his knees. But through his pain he did faintly recognise the voice of his attacker as she spoke to him in a familiar Southern drawl. "I'm beginning to regret ever having contemplated recruiting you Batman," she sneered. "I've now realised you're not even fit to lick my boots. "The lovely Robin will be a much better choice. Do remember that." She took a step back and delivered a side-on kick to Batman's face which sent him sprawling face down onto the pavement. Her leg swung back again and the tip of her boot launched forward and connected with his temple. As he sank into unconsciousness Electra turned to the men who had watched the performance in stunned silence. "Get the back-up van and move the stuff," she ordered before returning to Batman's prone body and kicking him in the side with such force he rolled over - one arm splaying off the pavement onto the road. "And don't touch this piece of garbage. Leave him to fester in the gutter where he belongs."