Legacies of Justice

[Courtney]

Who: Courtney Whitmore, Katana and thugs provided by Dick

Manhattan may be a long way from Blue Valley, Nebraska, (certainly it's more than just miles that seperate the two,) but for now, it's just another day in the Big Apple. It's late in a breezy spring day, and the sun is beginning to sink towards the Hudson river to the west. In New York, saying 'people are going about their business' is roughly akin to saying 'I'm inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.' It's /always/ happening. Up above, a plane is passing overhead, the 4:30 commuter shuttle from LaGuardia to RFK in Gotham City. Somewhat below that, a flock of pigeons flaps through the sky, searching for scraps of food. Down below, cars are driving in all directions, pedestrians headed home from work, or possibly /to/ work, to an early dinner, a late lunch, or a REALLY late breakfast. And in an alleyway below, four young men in leather jackets and jeans are eyeing a woman in tattered clothing who appears to be sleeping in a cardboard box.

Another 2 hours until its Courtney's turn at the monitor station back at the mansion but that's the farthest thing from her mind as she steps off the ferry from the Liberty Island where she's managed to complete a history assignment. Hefting her backpack a little higher up onto her shoulder she walks along just like any resident of the city, well atleast until she glances into an alley to see the four men in jackets looking down at something or someone on the ground. Not knowing their intent the blond decides to do a very un-New Yorker thing and steps into the alley and calls over to the men, "Hey is everything ok?"

"Everything'll be fine if you just keep on-" one of the men begins, when another hits him lightly on the arm and points in Courtney's direction. All four of them look over towards the young woman speculatively. The one who spoke first nods to the others and says, "Take a look at this," he says, pointing to the woman apparently still asleep on the ground. "Come closer," he suggests, eliciting a snicker from one of the others.

Stopping at the entrance to the alley she rests her pack down for a moment pulling out her cosmic belt and slipping it on before she stands up once more. Even as she lifts her backpack up onto her should she moves to close the distance in the alley. "Is she alright?", Courtney asks playing the role of naive tourist up a bit even as she motions back over her shoulder, "I bet one of the park rangers back by the ferry could call for help."

They're not really very subtle, these guys. They're practically salivating as Courtney leaves the relative openness of the street and heads deeper into the alley. "I bet you could help us out all by yourself," the talkative one says, taking a step forward.

It's at this point that the woman in the cardboard box makes her first sound. It's a single word, hissed angrily, that sounds vaguely like "Coo-so!" Whether it's another language or simply gibberish, it's quickly followed by action. Shooting out of the box with surprising speed, the woman slams into the back of one of the young men's legs, knocking him to the ground. Grabbing a fistful of his black hair, she rams the man's face into the concrete alley, leaving him unconscious. Rolling backwards onto her feet, it's apparent this isn't your typical alley-dweller. She looks to be about 30 and is clearly of Asian descent. In a quiet but firm voice, she says to the men, "You will leave the girl alone. Now."

An order that, technically speaking, the three men obey. One shouts, "Get the bitch!" and all three of them charge towards the woman.

While its been some time since Courtney has relied solely on her belt, she knows she needs more then just skill when outnumbered by larger opponents and its a whole lot less conspicuous especially for a simple tourist. Even so while she walks up she tries to cover up the belt to hide it even as the woman begins to speak and then well all hell breaks loose quickly even as the men forget her leaving her in the clear. "Leave her alone," Courtney yells to the backs of the men even as she moves towards the nearest one at a fast sprint even as she reaches for a hand to hopefully grab him by the shoulder to toss against the alley wall to take him out of commission.

The guy Courtney grabs was totally ignoring the young blonde, and is quite surprised to be hurled against the wall, at which point surprise gives way to unconsciousness. The woman's eyes narrow at this turn of events, but only for a moment, as the two men are on her. She ducks under the wild punch of one. Letting his momentum carry him past, her foot shoots outward and slams into his back, sending him running several strides towards the back of the alley. The fourth man attempts a similar move, with similar success. Even off-balance, the woman simply rolls backward out of the range of the blow, in Courtney's direction. She reaches for her side, as if for a weapon of some sort, then winces, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. The two men still standing regroup, glaring angrily at the woman and advancing towards her. She glances in Courtney's direction and says politely, "If you'll allow me?" before launching a kick at one man's head.

Knowing true skill when she sees it Courtney nods her head slightly in response to the woman's question, "By all means." While she won't let the woman get in trouble she does kind of have a secret identity to protect even if it does seem half the JSA's enemies know who she is. Even as she watches the teen however is taking mental notes of the woman and how she's fighting just in case when this is all over she doesn't manage to get a name, or one that she thinks is real.

The kick connects solidly, and the man's eyes roll back as he collapses to the ground. Re-centering her balance to face the final thug, she waits for the punch she knows he'll throw. When it comes, she dodges to the side and steps inside the blow, spinning around and driving her elbow into the man's stomach. As he doubles up in pain, the woman reaches over her shoulder and grabs hold of his head. Dropping down and forward, she pulls him off balance and flips him over her shoulder to land on his back with a thud. One short jab to the temple later, and he has joined his comrades in dreamland.

It's a clear victory for the good guys, (er, gals...) but the woman doesn't seem overly pleased with the results. She scowls at the downed men and seems to ponder them, glancing in the direction of the cardboard box she was supposedly sleeping in earlier. It's at this point that her gaze finds Courtney. Her eyes go swiftly to the belt the teenager put on shortly after entering the alleyway. After a moment's silence, she says dryly, "I don't suppose you would support the idea that society would be better if these four were removed from existence?"

Courtney pauses as she tries to think of how the others might answer that question, especially as from what she had been present for the men's crime really wasn't all that bad. After biting her lower lip for a few seconds she finally shakes her head slightly as she answers, "Where would the justice be in that if they don't have to stand up for what they did?" Glancing down just briefly at the men before returning her eyes to the woman Courtney goes on, "Besides the obvious, what else did they do anyways?"

"I thought as much," the woman says with a rueful chuckle. She walks over to the cardboard box, reaching in and pulling out something wrapped in canvas. Whatever it is, it's about three feet long and rather thin. "The obvious isn't enough?" she asks as she hauls the canvas over her shoulder. "They intended rape and murder. First myself, then you, when you intervened. That they failed seems poor reason for leniency. As it is, they will receive no justice beyond a headache, as I cannot stay to testify against them. Unless I miss my guess, you might prefer your involvement were not known as well."

"Well I have to say I'd prefer not to be grounded," Courtney answers with a soft chuckles as she looks at the four men laying on the ground. "Of course if the police just happened to get an anonymous call I wouldn't complain," she goes on figuring there's probably a pay phone near enough she can use before these guys can wake up and get away.

"You may do so, if it pleases you," the woman suggests, "but anonymous tips are poor evidence on their own. Barring outstanding warrants, they will be free in 24 hours or less." While the woman's preference for the men's fate is clear, she doesn't seem to be making any move towards putting that preference into action. "While your help wasn't strictly necessary, you have my thanks nonetheless." The woman offers Courtney a nod of her head.

"Glad I could help Miss?", Courtney answers politely trying to get a little more information without making a whole big deal out of it. "If there's somewhere I can help you get to I know the city a little," she goes on downplaying how well she's learned the city since she started spending part of her time here. She doesn't really expect the woman to take her up on her offer but it is the polite thing to do.

The woman glances in Courteney's direction, wheels of her mind turning. Not so much with regards to the offer for help, (she's capable of getting wherever she needs on her own,) but rather the inquiry. As might be imagined by her appearance (and sleeping quarters), she's quite deep undercover right now, and if this girl spends a fair amount of time in New York, it's a safe bet she's affiliated with one of the resident teams of heroes, (probably the Titans, given her age.) She could tell her nothing, of course, but the girl is polite, and she did try to save her. "Tatsu," she replies. It's as safe an answer as she can give and still being true. It's still a risk, and Katana knows of at least one Titan who might recognize it, but even small debts must be repaid. "In point of fact, I'll be departing the city." She points at the downed men. "They will talk. The wrong person might listen. I must leave."

Nodding her head slowly as the woman speaks she realizes the fact that they're not exactly alone, "You stay safe Miss Tatsu," she answers innocently enough. Not being exactly equipped for running into trouble its not as if Courtney has some way of tracking the woman, all she has is a bit of information she can possible use to find out just who this woman is and what brought her to New York. And if she really is leaving the city maybe where she's going. She'll let the woman leave first just in case and as a sign of this Courtney steps slightly to the side hopefully blocking the men's view should any wake up in the meantime.

With a departing nod, she begins to leave. As Tatsu approaches the alley, the swift graceful stride with which she walks...changes. It becomes a swaying, almost shambling gait. Along with the clothing, it transforms the woman into the sort of person most people's eyes will just pass right over. After a moment, she moves into the crowd, an island around which the rivers of pedestrian traffic eddy.

After watching the woman disappear into the crowd Courtney removes her belt and slips it back into her backpack before retrieving a cell phone from the front pouch and dialing, "Hey Alex its Courtney. Can you call the police and have them pick up four unconscious guys in an alley north of the statue docks?" A short pause follows as she listens, "No no I'm fine, I'm coming back now." Knowing the call is being made she hangs up her phone and heads out of the alley herself leaving them men to the police for now at least.