Crime is a Girly Thing

I sat on the pavement entirely exhausted. The fight seemed to have lasted a week but I knew it had been only the shortest of minutes. Brawling had a way, I had learned, of making time seem endless.

Lying next to me on her back, unmoving, was Catgirl. She and I had fought several times before and it was always a coin flip as to who would come out on top. We were the same age. She was stronger but I was quicker so we were an even match. This time, thankfully, I had won and had been able to knock her out which was why she was on the ground, inert.

Her name was Sophia and she was the young daughter of Selina Kyle, Catwoman. Ever since Catwoman had kidnapped me and Batgirl, Batman and Robin had apprehended her (see The Girl in Boy Wonders Clothes) and sent her off to jail, Catgirl, the daughter, had blamed me for her mother's demise.

At every chance she had tried to do me harm and it had driven me into martial arts training. After months I graduated into a full blown Crime Fighter known as the White Pearl. I was nowhere as accomplished as Batman, or even Batgirl, but I was able to hold my own against the criminal underworld.

Including the vindictive Catgirl. I glanced over at the fallen girl. She was pretty, very pretty in fact, with long, brunette hair, fair skin, brown, innocent eyes. If she had been wearing a frilly blouse and cotton skirt she would have looked to belong in the third row of a student council meeting. But now, lying in her brief bra-like top, ankle length Lycra bottoms, black, heeled leather boots she looked more like the vicious tart she was. Even, I had heard, her mother had admonished her for the, uh... revealing attire of her costume.

But Catgirl was a teenager so Catwoman's words went in one ear and out the other.

But who was I to judge? Mom rolled her eyes at my White Pearl garb. It consisted of a bra top, boy cut shorts, a pearl ankle bracelet above my bare feet. Everything was solid white including the lone pearl earring in my left ear.

What the heck, I wasn't a ten year old any more. Four years had passed. And crime fighting demanded style.

Well the Police Station was just around the corner and I was resting before heading over to fetch them. Catgirl was wanted on various charges and her latest assault attempt on me was going to be added to her list. I felt I had time to take a break. The fight with Catgirl had been intense and she wasn't going anywhere. She was so totally knocked out I had all the time in the world.

As I rested gathering my breath Batgirl came running up. This wasn't the Barbara Gordon Batgirl but the younger version of her named Cindy Gordon, Barbara's little sister.

Cindy now lived with Barbara in the West Wing of Wayne Manor. The house was so enormous that even though Barbara and Cindy occupied one whole wing they seldom crossed paths with Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. Everyone knew everyone's secret identity so crime fighting was simplified if they all departed to thwart crime from the same place. Hence Bruce had arranged for Barbara and her younger sister to move in.

Younger Batgirl frowned looking down at the fallen form of Catgirl. "White Pearl,is she dead?"

"No. I knocked her out. She'll be alright after she comes to in jail."

Young Batgirl nodded. "She won't be happy. Are the cops on the way?"

I shook my head. "About to go over and get them. Our fight just finished and I haven't had time. Needed to rest a bit."

Young Batgirl offered me her hand. I took a it and rose to my feet with her help.

Then from nowhere Cindy's fist slammed against my chin. Hard. So hard I was knocked out, crumbling next to Catgirl.
* * * * * *
The next day was a Saturday and I was in a foul mood. Cindy had sucker punched me! Knocked me out cold and by the time I came to she, young Batgirl, was gone and so was Catgirl.

I dressed and headed over to Wayne Manor. I deserved an explanation. And an apology if the explanation wasn't good enough.

When Alfred answered the door he saw immediately I was in a state. "Where's Cindy?"

"Up in the Gordon's wing I believe. Barbara is in her study. Shall I tell........?"

"Don't bother," I snapped bolting passed him. "I know the way."

Barbara Gordon was in the study, sitting in a large leather chair, in her purple robe, reading the morning newspaper. "Why Kelli. Whatever are...?

"Where's your little sister?"

Barbara wrinkled her forehead. "Is there something the matter? Cindy is still sleeping. She was out all night crime fighting."

"Crime fighting? Ha! More like crime abetting." I was getting angrier and angrier. "I had Catgirl captured, ready to hand over to the police until your darling little sister showed up and knocked me out cold and helped Catgirl escape!"

Barbara looked at me incredulous. "That can't........are you sure?" Then she spun. "I'll get her."

While Barbara was gone I was pacing, trying to calm my anger down. Perhaps there was an explanation but that didn't seem possible. Cindy had knocked me out. Cindy had helped Catgiel escape. That was that.

When Barbara returned she had a sleepy Cindy in tow. The blond teen was rubbing her eyes with one had, the other was probing the side of her neck. She was still in her night clothes or what passed for them. Like myself we both slept in underpants and an over sized tee shirt. Nothing glamorous about us.

"Oh hi Kelli," Cindy murmured when she saw me.

"Cindy? Kelli has something to ask you and I don't think you're going to answer untruthfully."

My hands on hips I approached Cindy, planted my feet firmly and looked her straight in the eye. "Last night you knocked me out. Why?"