Carla (The Black Widow) Batman's new sidekick.
By Crohnsman Crohnsman67216@yahoo.com
Batman has to pick a new sidekick when Robin decides to go to College.

This story was requested by a fan. I liked the suggestions he offered, so
agreed to write the story. I hope you and he enjoy it, and I want to
thank him for the idea. As usual, there will be 3 stories.

"COLLEGE?" "But I don't understand Dick? Why would you want to give up
your life of fighting crime, so you can go to College?" Bruce Wayne asked
his friend and sidekick Dick Grayson. "Look Bruce. I want something
better out of life then sending criminals to jail. Yes, it's very
rewarding to make the streets safer for the citizens of Gotham City, but
I need this for me. You built an Empire before taking up the crime
fighting business, and I want to make something of myself too. And
College is the first step."

"Alright Dick, I'm sorry. You surprised me with this news, and I acted
without thinking. I never knew you felt this way, and it just seems so
sudden." "Actually Bruce, I've been thinking about it for quite a while.
I only made my decision last night, and you're the first one I've told. I
want to put my mark on this world, and I can't do that as Robin. I was
hoping you would be supportive." Dick told his mentor. "I will old
friend. I'll help any way I can. I understand how you feel, and I'm
behind you one hundred percent. So forgive me for reacting the way I
did." Bruce replied.

"You're forgiven Bruce. And thank you for believing in me. Everything I
am today, I owe to you. And I'm very grateful for everything you've
taught me. But at this point in my life, I need something more. And I
need to accomplish it on my own, so it will be more gratifying." Bruce
Wayne stood next to Dick and smiled. He was going to put his arm around
the young mans shoulders to show him everything between them was fine.
But Dick Grayson had hit a growth spurt the past year, and his 6 foot 8
inch height was a little to much for the 6 foot 2 inch Bruce to reach
comfortably. So he shook his hand instead.

"OK old friend, what are your plans for College? Do you have a Major in
mind?" Bruce asked. "I thought I would study law and become a Prosecuting
Attorney. After Graduation, I could get a job in the District Attorney's
office. Then I could help fight crime that way. Only I would be doing it
thorough the legal system with the law, instead of on the streets with my
fists." Dick replied. "That sounds like an excellent plan Dick. You'll
make a fabulous Lawyer. I'm really proud of you old friend.

"There is one other reason I would like to try College Bruce. Please
don't laugh when I tell y ou what it is." "I would never laugh at
something you feel is important to you Dick. So tell me, what other
avenue do you expect to travel while in College?" "I have been thinking
about how tall I have become over the last year, and I've always had a
passion for basketball. I thought I might try my hand at that, and see
what develops." The young man admitted. "I'm sure you will succeed at
that too my friend. You always go after what you want with the fiercest
determination I've ever seen. Come on, I'll help you pack." The two
friends and crime fighting partners, climbed the stairs arm in arm.

Batman was lonely. Robin had only been gone a month, but it felt like
years to him. He missed the companionship of his old partner, and the
camaraderie they shared while fighting crime. It just wasn't the same
doing it alone. But Dick had been right. It was time the young man struck
out on his own, and made a life for himself. A life that didn't include
being in danger all of the time. So stepping on the young mans dreams and
asking him to come back, was out of the question. He would just have to
go it alone and force himself to get used to it. It was the only way.

The next night, Bruce Wayne was sitting in his Library reading the daily
paper. There were other crime fighters in Gotham City, and one in
particular had been in the paper at least once a week. This crime fighter
had only been at it a year, but had really accomplished quite a bit. And
the astounding thing to Bruce, was that the crime fighter was a woman.
The Black Widow had put away quite a few criminals in the last year. And
her reputation was gaining strength each week. She was nearly as popular
as Batman these days.

As Bruce was reading the story of her latest conquest, it occurred to him
that all of her crime fighting was taking place in a certain section of
the city. It was a section that had one of the highest crime rates, but
it certainly wasn't the only one. He became very curious as to why she
never ventured out to any other part of town. Her expertise could be used
everywhere there was crimes being committed. So he decided to check on
the Black Widow, and see if Batman could get some answers. And another
idea was forming in his head, that would fill the void of Robin's
absence.

Carla Stone was a Correctional Officer. Her job of watching over newly
released parolees, was very rewarding to her. And she took that job very,
very seriously. She did her level best to help them become model
citizens, and a productive and useful part of society. She was proud of
her 87% success rate, in keeping the men and women she looked after out
of trouble. They stayed on the straight and narrow path, and became law
abiding citizens of the community. But Carla still worried about the 13%
she wasn't able to save. And new criminals popped up every day.

The average citizen wasn't always safe on the streets of Gotham City, and
that bothered Carla. If you wanted to take your family to a movie, or
your date out for a bite to eat, you shouldn't have to be wary of every
stranger you passed on the street. So Carla decided to help those
citizens in another capacity. She admired Batman and his passion for
fighting crime, and keeping the city safe from criminals. And Carla was a
well oiled f ighting machine. She took her first Karate class at the age
of six, and fell in love with martial arts. Now at 25, she has studied
every form of combat there is. And is quite adept at them all. So why not
use that ability to help others, and fight crime like Batman.

So the Black Widow was born. A 5 foot 5 inch, 120 pound female in a skin
tight black patent leather suit, that fit her well proportioned body like
a glove. Calf length black boots with six inch heels covered her lethal
kicking feet. And black gloves that fit her hard hitting hands like they
were part of her skin, covered her fists. The final part of her crime
fighting costume, was a black cloth mask that covered the top half of her
beautiful face. It was tied under her mane of black wavy hair that hung
just past her shoulders. She was an invisible night creature, that feared
nothing.

The Black Widow could kick your ass six ways from Sunday. Her quick hands
and hard kicking feet, were lethal weapons of destruction. And she wore a
small device on both wrists, that injected her adversaries with a three
inch needle filled with nerve gas. The nerve gas lasted about an hour,
and kept the criminal paralyzed, until the police could respond to the
anonymous phone call they would receive. But they were only injected
after she beat the hell out of them and foiled their crime. She liked the
up close and personal touch. Her small business size card with a picture
of a black widow spider, was pinned on their paralyzed bodies.

Batman was patrolling the streets, looking for the Black Widow. He turned
the corner in the Bat mobile, and glanced down the alley half way up the
block. There was a struggle going on in that alley, so he stopped to
investigate. If it wasn't the Black Widow, it could be a citizen that
needed his help. Batman had just started up the alley, when a young
couple came running for the street. They stopped for a second, thinking
it might be another thug there to rob them. Then they recognised Batman
and began running toward him. They seemed frightened, so he stopped to
see if they needed his help.

"Batman, you have to help her. Four men tried to rob us, and Black Widow
showed up just in time. She told us to get safely away, but those four
men might kill her. Please Batman, you have to help her." "Don't worry
ma'am. I'm going to help her. You two get to safety like she said."
Batman charged down the alley. But before he could cover the twenty yards
to the scene of the struggle, it was over. Two men were lying on the
ground a few feet away, sleeping like babies. Their battered faces had
seen much better days. A third mans throat was trapped under her foot and
he was struggling to get free. He lost the battle and consciousness. The
fourth was pinned against the wall, begging the Black Widow to stop
beating him.

Carla was pissed. The man she had pinned against the wall, was a parolee
that was released into her custody only a week ago. He was already back
to committing crimes, and now was part of the 13% she was unabled to
save. "Pl.please.. Bl.Black.. Widow.. st.stop.. b.beating.. me!" SMACK..
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH ROSCO! SMACK.. YOU DESERVE EVERY BIT OF PUNISHMENT I'M
GIVING YOU" SMACK.. "How.. do.. y.you.. k.know.. my.. n.n.name?" The
frightened thug asked. SM ACK.. "I KNOW THE NAME OF EVERY WORTHLESS PIECE
OF SCUM ON MY STREETS!" SMACK..SMACK..SMACK..SMACK. Rosco dropped to the
ground unconscious.

"I can see you didn't need my help little lady." The Black Widow spun
around and was stunned to see Batman standing at her side. "Batman? What
are you doing in this part of Gotham City?" "Looking for you Black Widow.
I wanted to see in person, the crime fighter that is becoming more
popular then me." "That's ridiculous Batman. You'll always be the top
crime fighter in the city. I'm just happy to do my share to help you out.
Which reminds me. Excuse me a second." She injected each man with the
nerve gas, and placed her calling card on Rosco's sleeping and soon to be
paralyzed body. "Lets get out of here, shall we."

As they walked away, Carla couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer.
"OK Batman, spill. What's the real reason you came all the way over here
to see me." Batman had been thinking about this for quite a while now.
Fighting crime without Robin, just wasn't the same. Not only for of the
companionship they shared, but because Robin wasn't there to watch his
back. It was getting on his nerves having to be more cautious. His eyes
were always in constant motion, trying to watch in every direction. With
Robin, he only had to keep an eye on two. Robin was his other pair of
eyes, and he trusted him to watch his back. Just like he watched his.

He hadn't convinced himself to ask the Black Widow to be his partner in
crime, because she was a female. He wasn't sure if he would be
comfortable tru sting his life to a woman. But she was hands down the
best out there, and she had greatly impressed him while he watched her in
action. He couldn't have handled those four men any better himself. She
was confident, an excellent fighter, and from what he could see, wasn't
bad to look at either. He made up his mind to partner up with her, if she
would accept his offer. "Would you mind taking a ride with me Black
Widow? I have a proposition I would like to discuss with you."

She climbed in the passenger side of the Bat mobile, and he drove away.
"First, I would like to ask you a question. Why do you only fight crime
in this section of town? Your fighting skills could be used all over the
city." Carla looked at him and smiled. "Not all of us have the resources
you seem to have Batman. The bulletproof Bat mobile, Bat plane, Bat boat,
and numerous gadgets of your wildest imagination. And another reason is,
I'm familiar with these streets. I know every crack and cranny that a
criminal might hide in, and the obvious places to look for a crime being
committed. I'm comfortable here."

"OK, I see your point. I guess I'm just so used to having these things at
my disposal, that I never give them a second thought. And I can certainly
understand you not wanting to patrol some streets you're not familiar
with. It could become very dangerous for you in a hurry. I never looked
at it that way before. That brings me to the proposal I have for you.
Robin has quit the crime fighting business for..shall we say personal
matters. How would you like to have all these do dads and gadgets you
just mentioned, at your disposal too. I could use a crime fighting
partner, and I think you would be an excellent one to have at m y side.
So what do you say?"

Carla was in shock. "YOU want ME to be your new crime fighting partner?
We would patrol the streets together in all of your transportation
vehicles, and fight crime. Are you serious?" "Yes Black Widow, I'm
serious." Bruce said, as he smiled at her reaction. "You would have the
opportunity to clean up more crime in Gotham City, with all that I have
to offer. And you would have someone to watch your back, while you
watched mine. So what do you say?" It didn't take Carla long to answer.
"I accept Batman."

"If we're going to be partners in fighting crime, I guess it would be
easier if we knew who each other was. So hang on little lady, I'm taking
you to the Bat cave." Carla smiled and sat back for the ride. Batman was
driving down a gravel road, on the outskirts of the city. Black Widow was
curious about where they were headed. There was nothing out here but wide
open country, and the mountain on their left. She almost had a heart
attack, when Batman veered off of the road, and drove straight toward the
mountain wall. He pushed a button on the dash, and the mountain side
opened up. She breathed easier.

"You could warn a girl Batman. I nearly peed in my costume when you
headed for that wall." "I'm sorry Black Widow." He said as he smiled.
"I'm used to my partner knowing about such things I guess. The next time
I'll try and remember." "That would be very considerate of you Batman.
Very considerate." Batman stopped the Bat mobile in a large underground
cave. The Black Widow stared at all of the equipment sp read around the
room. She had never seen so many hi tech devices in her life. And the
computer was gigantic.

"WHOA!" "No wonder you're the best at what you do. Look at all this
stuff. How the hell did you get all of these wonderful things?" "I guess
the easiest way to answer that, is to reveal my identity. He removed his
cowl, and Carla nearly fell out of the Bat mobile. "Well dip me in batter
and fry me up. The millionaire tycoon Bruce Wayne is Batman. Now that is
a surprise. I see how you can afford all your gadgets and vehicles now."
"I believe it's your turn to surprise me Black Widow." Bruce told her.

She untied her mask and slipped it off of her beautiful face. His face
lit up with recognition. "Carla Stone! That surprises me as well." "You
know me?" She asked. "We haven't been formally introduced. But I have
seen you at several Charity functions and Political dinners. I admire the
work you do with the parolees released in your care. And your success
rate is exemplary. You should be proud of what you've accomplished. By
the way, welcome to Wayne Manor, Ms. Stone." "Why thank you Bruce, I am
proud. And you have a lovely home." She said as she smiled at the rock
walls of the cave.

Their little get to know each other better chat, was interrupted by
Alfred. "Excuse me Master Bruce. Commissioner Gordon has been trying to
reach you for an hour. It seems the Master Blaster is going to strike
again tonight. And this time he has inside information as to where that
will be." "Thank you Alfred. Hopefully we will be able to put an end to
his crime spree once and for all. This is the Black Widow Alfred. She has
consented to be my new crime fighting partner." "Carla Stone. This is my
butler and trusted friend Alfred." The two exchanged greetings, and
Alfred went back up to the Manor.

"The Master Blaster. Isn't he the one that has blown up and cleaned out
about half of the bank vaults in the city?" Carla asked. "Yes. He's
trying to bankrupt the city and take over. He's always been one step
ahead of me until now. If Commissioner Gordon's information is credible,
he gets stopped for good tonight. Are you ready to go to work partner?"
"Right beside you Batman. Lets take this scum down." Bruce called
Commissioner Gordon and got the address of where he was going to strike.
They still had two hours until his crime would be put in motion, so they
made plans to surprise the evil villain and stop him.

Master Blaster was so busy planning his next job, he forgot all about his
girlfriends Birthday. Little did he know, that she was so pissed off, she
informed the police where he was going to strike next. He was totally
surprised to find Batman and Black Widow waiting inside the building,
when he and his cohorts entered. "GET THEM!" He ordered his thug gang,
while he turned to run for the door and escape. "You go after him Batman,
I'll handle these punks." "Are you sure Black Widow. There is six of them
against you?" "Please, give me some credit. Now go." "OK partner, if
that's the way you want it."

Batman took off after the Master Blaster, while the Black Widow faced off
against hi s six thugs. She smiled as she approached them. "I'm about to
show you wimps why crime doesn't pay. You can give up peaceably and go to
jail the easy way. Or get a bad beating and end up in jail the hard way.
Make your choice wimps, I'm not a patient woman." The six men charged her
all at once. "WHAM!".."WHAM!".."WHAM!" A spinning roundhouse kick, put
three of them in the floor moaning. The other three halted their attack.

"Come on boys. I don't have all night." They charged her again. "WHAM!"
The one to her left was knocked to the floor by a front kick to the chin.
"SMACK!"......"SMACK!" Her back fist connected to the jaw of the first
man, and traveled on around to land on the jaw of the second. The first
three were getting to their feet. "WHAP!" Her black boot exploded in the
face of the man on her right. He left his feet and sailed back about a
yard before he landed in the floor.

"THUD..THUD..The other two were met by a hard female fist slamming into
their mid sections. "SMACK!".."SMACK!" The uppercut to each of their
chins, put them in the floor on their backs. The man that was caught with
her front kick was up and ready to deliver a punch. The Black Widow
turned her firm, fighting body to the right, and grabbed his arm when he
missed. "AAIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" His high pitched scream was heard all
over the building, as he flew over her shoulder and hit the floor.
"SLAM!"

"WHAP!" She landed a side kick to his temple, and he drifted off to
sleep. The two she had punched with her back fist, were up and coming at
her. They were completely caught off guard when she dove forward with h
er arms extended out. The two men were clothes lined and hit the floor
hard. "SLAM!".."SLAM!".. Their heads bounced on the floor when they
hit."BAM!".."BAM!" They were stunned and defenseless against the hard
straight punches that were going to put them to sleep. "SMACK!".."SMACK!"

The man she had kicked in the face, was on his feet shaking his head
trying to clear the cob webs out. "Let me help you with that little man."
The Black Widow told him as she smiled. "THUD..THUD..THUD..THUD..four
solid punches to his stomach, turned his face green. "I'll bet you're not
thinking about your head now. Are you wimp?" "WHACK!" Her elbow landed on
the back of his neck, and he slumped to the floor out cold. "Good night
little man. Sweet dreams."

The last two were up and advancing on her slowly. The Black Widow placed
her hands on her hips, and waited for them to reach her. When they were
nearly on her, she quickly raised her male beating arms and combed her
gloved fingers through her shiny black hair. The two men jumped back,
with frightened looks on their white as a sheet faces. "Did I scare you
boys? I'm sorry about that. But a girl likes to look her best at all
times. Even if she's about to beat two pathetic weaklings to a pulp. Now
come here so we can finish this." They turned and ran.

A short sprint had her right behind them in no time. The Black Widow
reached up and grabbed both men by the back of the neck.
"WHACK!".."WHACK!" She smacked their heads together, and they dropped to
their knees. Both men were barely conscious, when she spread her fingers
over their faces and bent their upper bodies back. Their weak struggle
lasted only a few seconds, before her claw hold put their lights out. She
released them and smiled as they slowly flopped over on their faces.

Batman chased Master Blaster toward the back of the building. He reached
into his utility belt and took out a cylinder shaped object. He pushed a
button, and a bola shot out of the object and was hurling toward his
quarry. The Master Blaster fell to the floor, when the bola wrapped
itself around his legs. He frantically tried to free himself before
Batman was on him, but the bola had done it's job well. His exposed chin
was blasted with a mighty uppercut from the Caped Crusader. "SMACK!" Out
he went.

Batman picked up Master Blaster and threw him over his shoulder. He
hurried back to see if Black Widow needed any help. When he entered the
room, he laughed at the scene in the floor in front of him. The Black
Widow was casually sitting on a stack of male bodies, swinging her leg up
and down. "I guess this puts an end to his crime spree Batman. He should
be in jail for a long, long time." Yes Black Widow, he will. And thanks
to you, so will his gang." "These wimps? No thanks necessary Batman. It
was as easy as a walk in the park." "Yes, I can see that it was partner.
Lets get these men to jail." "Right behind you partner."

They carted the seven men off to jail, and received the thanks of
Commissioner Gordon and his force. As they were headed back to the Bat
mobile, Black Widow looked at Batman and smiled. "How about feeding a
girl a little dinner Batman? And maybe letting me see the rooms in Wayne
Manor, that actually have furniture in them." "It would be my pleasure
Black Widow." He said as he laughed. "Or should I say Carla?" "Call me
what ever you want Bruce. As long as you give a starving girl something
to chew on." She replied as she smiled. "It's a deal partner. Lets go."
"I thought you would never ask. She said.