<div class="floatleft">(http://www.hadenblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Batwoman-22.jpg)</div><strong><em>Name:</em></strong>Katherine 'Kate' Kane<strong><em>Moniker:</em></strong>Batwoman<br/><strong><em>Affiliation:</em></strong>Bat Family;  Department of Extranormal Operations<br/><strong><em> Location:</em></strong>S.T.A.R LAbs; Foyer Entrance<br/><strong><em>Time:</em></strong>October 17, 2015; 2025 hours | Saturday<br/><strong><em>Speaking To:</em></strong>Spoiler<br/><strong><em>Mentioning:</em></strong>Nightwing, Superboy, Oracle, Deathstroke<br/><hr/><hr/><strong><em>Summary:</em></strong>Witnessing Spoiler's state, Batwoman enters a state of tranquil fury and plots out every step of her reaction to Deathstroke's attack.  She deposits the box to Spoiler under the rationale she's injured and capable of using one arm.  If they are pursued (assuming Deathstroke can get past Connor and Nightwing after they leave), she'd need to fend Deathstroke off.  A simple addendum to Maneuver Five.<br/><hr/><hr/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>J</strong></span>ust after trying to contact Oracle, Batwoman spectated something that held so many triggers and actions played in slow-motion that she didn't care if Oracle had responded or not.  The words would have fallen on empty ears to a hardening resolve underneath the bat-fashioned cowl.  Before, she thought Spoiler's scream was a simple reaction from getting struck during Deathstroke's retaliation.  It wasn't anything she concerned herself with during her migration from the desk to the door.  After all, Spoiler wanted to contend with the veterans and was going to learn things the hard way;  that included getting her ass beat.  Of course, Batwoman had not expected a broken and battered young blonde.  That was<strong>not</strong>acceptable.  As a result, Batwoman became eerily silent and motionless.<br/><br/>No one in this room would fully understand why Kate would've become enraged at such a sight but at least two had enough knowledge to hint or speculate.  There was once a girl around Stephanie's age that was frequently seen fighting at Kate's side, adorned in a bird thematic uniform with a fiery-aesthetic cape.  She went by the name of Hawkfire.  To the city, she was Batwoman's sidekick but to those who knew the deeper truth, it was much more.  Hawkfire was Bette Kane, Kate's cousin.  Years ago, they had a fight.  As a result, Bette lashed out on her own to spite Kate and ended up dead because of it.  It was through sheer reluctance that she took Spoiler on as a protege and every moment of fear at the thought of losing her was prominent through all of it.  Yet, she couldn't tell her to stop or give up the idea.  She knew it would only result in Stephanie making the same mistake Bette did.<br/><br/>On the surface, Batwoman remained the same.  What parts of her face one could see was sternly composed and the opaque, white lenses of the cowl stare lifelessly in Deathstroke's direction.  Inside, a volatile eruption had emerged.  This man, whom played her like a fool earlier and has proven to be a noteworthy threat, had now angered her.  It wasn't ever difficult to get Kate frustrated but it was difficult to get her mad.  There was years or the harshest military training and discipline behind her.  She's seen the most horrid practices humanity has to offer and faced down threats that would bring anyone's sanity into question.  Few things could actually get under her skin as Batwoman.  Yet, Deathstroke did simply by hurting Spoiler.  Fear for the girl's future - the girl's life - needed it's outlet.  For now, things had become quintessentially different and she was going to make this man regret coming to her city.  Ignore the theft.  Ignore the pain.  Ignore all else but the two actions of hurting Stephanie and coming to her city.  She was pissed.<br/><br/>Nightwing called for Maneuver Five and before any protest could be heard, smoke began to cloud the room.  Still unmoving, Batwoman had no means to protest either way.  Everything happened with a meticulous, hardened gaze before her.  Deathstroke caught on to what she had, immediately making a path towards her which only confirmed her suspicions.  What she had in hand<em>was</em>something he needed and the innate exploits that came with a confirmation were quickly realized.  She knew Deathstroke was going to be no fool but now he had to favor ascertaining the object above all else while defending from her and the team.  In honesty, she could care less at this point.  Her priority shifted to getting Spoiler<strong>out</strong>or harm's way and making sure this bastard would think twice next time.<br/><br/>If she was going to serve as the Robin of Maneuver Five, she needed both hands free in worst case scenario.  Stephanie was the one injured and had at least one free hand but getting to the girl came first.  She wasn't sure if Stephanie knew what Maneuver Five was, but she also rationalized it's most likely not going to be well received innately.  The girl took a blow to the head, thus reciprocation of senses were stunted and unfavorable.  Kate could turn and run with the device but she was not going to leave Stephanie alone.  She'd rather die.  With all of this in mind, Kate dropped the black, nondescript cube next to her feet as Deathstroke was focusing his attention on Nightwing.  The use of a gun with questionable visual quality through a smokescreen it seemed.  Of course, general location and common sense could bypass things so it wasn't a wasted effort but it cost him a considerable focus on her and she still had distance between them.<br/><br/>He sprinted harder.  There was duress presented through that and a greater disadvantage he gave himself.  Sure enough, the force of a blow would be considerably more effective but it came with the cost of maneuverability.  An object in motion stays in motion, unable to stop until the velocity and energy of said motion stops.  She was standing still, watching and preparing for the inevitable leap or strike.  It was the mirror opposite of her prior engagement before.  He took to the air, eliminating every opportunity to shift his direction as a result.  That fact was considerably reinforced with his corkscrew twisting and his attack was broadcasted as blatantly as possible.  Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.<br/><br/>She already knew he was coming.  That was evident prior to the leap when he burst from the collecting screen of smoke towards her and the exit.  Her foot positioned exactly where it needed to against the cube during all of this and when he committed to that leap?  When he sacrificed all chance to react other than his attack, she kicked the cube towards Spoiler and shifted her weight so she'd crouch down into a defensive and readied position.  As she crouched, she brought up her staff to meet his, fully knowing the strength of impact and that's exactly why she was going to redirect instead of oppose.  It was a principle of Aikido, emphasizing the philosophy of aiki.  One doesn't meet force.  One simply blends with it.  Thus, she leaned back and ensured her staff met his in the opportune position to avoid harm while carrying the momentum past her.  This left her on her back but already in motion to roll in reverse, still following his energy and momentum.<br/><br/>Both of her feet shot up, aiming for his open flanks.  He had his armor, yes, but even the best armor could not compensate for trauma reduction.  His undoubtedly had a significant margin of that benefit but she had seen him take a punch from Connor that sent him flying.  Despite not knowing that Connor was weakened, the way she reacted to his attack as nothing but short of exploitative use of his own motions.  Unless Deathstroke had some magical means of negative every law of physics, this was foolproof.  He would be kicked up and over her and she'd be on her feet by the time he was able to get to his.  Sure, he could tumble and recover from the roll in a way similar to Nightwing but he'd have the pressure in his respiratory system still in shock from the impact to his torso and the distance needed to stop his momentum.  She'd have ample opportunity to get into a defensive system after it was all said and done.<br/><br/><em>"Spoiler, get the box and head for the exit.  I'll be right behind you."</em>