The city truly never slept. There was never a time when there weren't people milling about, some just as if it were daytime instead of night. London wasn't quite as cordial, with its armada of CCTV cameras constantly watching every street, every alley. The liberty that the broken Lady in the harbor promised gave him leeway to do all sorts of things that might otherwise not be able to.

Ever since his run in with the man in gray, Roland had reworked the duplicate of his suit, to combine it with the hidden spaces that his normal stealth suit already had. It appeared slightly more bulky in the back if scrutinized, as Roland's regular gear was stored in formed spaces for the items.

He had moved across rooftops for several hours , looking for the original wearer. Having missed him since their initial meeting, he had planned to find a way to unmask him so he could really get into the man's mind. He wouldn't tonight though, as the hours were sliding by and nothing of worth had popped up. His route through the buildings led him to a large open and well lit area;Times Square. Even at this later hour, there were plenty of people around.

There was quite a gathering around what appeared to be a local news van. Lots of Hi Moms and Go Yankees were being fired off behind the poor little journalist, trying to tell a story. Was it live or tape? Roland decided it didn't really matter. It was an easy device for the goal he had in mind. In a city full of costumes and capes, there probably wouldn't be too much of a panic.

Making a grand entrance would be tricky. Just walking up to them would tarnish the quality of the clip. Roland looked at the edge of the building and his vision scanned a line of movement spots between his current position and the news van. A fire escape, a flagpole, a traffic light and the top of the van later, the broadcast was interrupted by a thump from above and a costumed clad man, staff in hand.

People watching. It wasn’t a great hobby but a gal had to do something in her down time. Even a gal with ears, a tail, and the fur coat that just spelled murder, at first glance. That’s the problem with first glances… They’re terrible first impressions.

Sara had been in the crowd for the last hour. Hiding in plane site, with her long coat and her hood over her face. She had picked several pockets while wondering back and forth around the crowd and now, she sat counting her money. Cross legged, with her tail twitching on a fire escape. Doing her best to hide in the shadows, behind one of those humongous neon signs as she counted out her freshly pilfered cash. Sure she had a new job, but that wasn’t paying nearly enough. Luke was right when he said it would be part time hours, at best.

“$412 and 47 cents.” Sara mumbled to herself. Why she stole the pocket change too, she had no idea. Actually there were a few things odd about tonight’s pilfering. Sara normally settled for 20 bucks at most. Nearly never hundreds of dollars. Her nose wrinkled as she looked down at the cash and her tail gave a violent flick. Well it was just this once. I was just on a roll Sara told herself.

She tucked the cash away, into a inner pocket of her pants. It was then, that her lamp like eyes saw the movement something, and her head jerked away from her pocket, to the street below. Where the news van had been located. Seemed like Luke was having fun tonight. Sara leaned around the edge of the neon sign as she watched his progress, as Wraith. He landed on the news van, and Sara tilted her head. That didn’t seem right for some reason. In fact there was something about the way Luke stood, that had little red lights going off in the back of Sara’s mind.

With the thump that preceded him, Roland stood and made a ridiculous bow, to add to the mockery of the suited cavalier type. The camera swiveled quickly to him as the young reporter quickly tried to get to the edge of the van, standing on her heeled tiptoes to get a statement, the microphone raised high, like a mini Lady Liberty. Remembering not to use his actual ability, he quickly reached down and grabbed the mic away from the lady as she sputtered out her name and the channel number. Just wasn't her day, Roland supposed.

Looking into the camera and using his best American accent, he began his rant." Thanks, Jenny. My name is the Staff!" He held out the duplicate staff in a defiant manner, doing his best to stifle the chuckle that wanted to escape his lips." I just want the viewing public to know that there is some joker out there running around in a copy of my suit! We costumed crimefighters take this stuff seriously. So, if you are out there, you dirty copycat, I hope you'll have the guts to show your face to me soon!" Sometimes, Roland was just proud of himself.

He tossed the mic down off the van and by sheer luck it bounced off the young reporter's head. Roland was busy inciting the crowd to chant 'Staff! Staff! Staff!' while he did Hulk Hogan like moves to see which side of the van would be the loudest. He could hear young Jenny, or Maria, or whatever her name was scrambling to get her mic and quickly trying to mend what was otherwise a ruined bid for her to get evening news desk. Roland simply put his hand out to her, palm facing her stunned mug.

He stepped back to the back of the van and launched himself like a pole vault toward the traffic light, mounting its arm above the crowd. The word Staff was still being chanted. He then retraced his previous path via flagpole and fire escape to find himself on the roof. The lights of the camera were still pointed at him as he flexed his muscles at the camera and crowd before tucking and rolling backward out of sight. He audibly chuckled to himself and put the staff back on his back, imagining the replay on the news. He would definitely Tivo it.

Sara’s nose wrinkled, in disgust, at the show going on, on the news van. Nope. That definitely wasn’t Luke. It was made certain when he picked up the Mic. The real Wraith wouldn’t look at the Mic to pick it up. His head would tilt differently. Sara’s ears flattened against the back of her hair.

She shook her head at the wrestling moves going on. Not impressive. When Staff went on the move, Sara launched herself straight up, behind the neon sign. She grabbed around a drain pipe, and flipped herself around to the shadowed edge of the building. At the roof, Sara only peaked over the edge, with her eyes and the top of her head. Ears flicked back and forth. She staid there till the lights left, and Staff was on the move out of the light.

Sara swung herself over the edge, landed lightly on the roof. A quick glance made sure that Sara wasn’t going to be seen by the lights shining from below. “I know you’re not the one being impersonated.” Sara said, as she turned back to face him. Almost singing it, in her lowered voice.

Roland looked out into the night and among the many rooftops, almost expecting a swift response from the real Staff, or whatever he called himself. He hoped that the man fumed over it because next time he saw him he would have a trap waiting for him, not unlike this time. He could see the lights moving away from the edge of the building as the report was undoubtedly being sent out to the news station. Looking into the sky, Roland suddenly wondered if there wouldn't be a news chopper on its way. He needed to have his victory party at home, not in a paddy wagon.

Ensuring his staff and baton were secured, he began to move to the edge of the building, scanning the rooftops for the best and quickest egress out of the scene. Spotting an excellent beginning to the chain, he stepped back a few feet and began to run forward. A female voice stopped him, surprising him enough that he had to reach down and brace himself at the roof's edge so as not to go hurtling over. Turning on his heel, he saw ...yes, he saw what appeared to be a female cat..woman?

“I know you’re not the one being impersonated." came from the lycanthrope's mouth, in a low singsong voice. Roland chuckled from behind the suit's hood. He let his American accent continue, as appearances were way beyond deceiving at this point. "Do you now? And how would you know that?" He turned and kept his hands out to his sides and open. It made for an excellent disguise of being unarmed. " I thought my costume was impressive. Yours must have cost you a fortune!"

She took the man by surprise and Sara laughed lightly, when he had to skid to a stop and use a hand to steady himself. Ok so that was more entertaining than the croud shouting on staff.

"Do you now? And how would you know that?"

“Now. That’s not all that important.” She wasn’t telling him, but she was sort of enjoying the fact she knew something he didn’t. She wasn’t exactly fond of Luke. The man was too likeable, but Luke was dating her best friend, Raina, and Luke was also her new employer. Things had sort of gotten complicated that way. So she had some reason to protect him.

"I thought my costume was impressive. Yours must have cost you a fortune!"

“It’s laughable at best.” Sara informed him. Then again she thought the original costume was rather comical. “And you have no idea what this look cost me.” Sara made a flourish with her hand waving it in her own face’s direction. She smiled to flash her long, elegantly pointed, teeth.

“Please leave the original Staff alone.” She suddenly dropped the smile and her ears flicked back again. This man was getting one warning.

Meow Meow seemed to completely wave off his first question. Roland continued his feigned display of vulnerability by taking a seat on the edge of the roof. She seemed friendly enough, claws and teeth and all. She was a good Meow Meow.He had definitely drawn attention, just the wrong kind. Or so he had thought. Her civility and clear speaking was just what a good kitty would do. He wondered if he watched her long enough if she might groom herself.

She also had style. At the obvious slur of her mutation, she continued her charming approach, though he guessed she might be capable of not so charming as well, which suited him fine. “It’s laughable at best and you have no idea what this look cost me.” A flourish and a flash of very real teeth. He almost wished he had a water mister to threaten her with. The wait proved profitable with her next statement.“Please leave the original Staff alone." There was the connection he sought.

He nodded to her. " Very interesting. Surely you know there is no such person as I made the name up. However, you do seem to know the man of whom I speak. What is your stake in this? Are you his dutiful sidekick? Perhaps his furry lover? Or does he just fill your milk bowl?" Roland stood from his seated position, retrieving the staff from his back. He turned it once to the right, a small click indicating it was armed. It was lined with a lovely plastique which he had the detonator for. It was a trap he had intended for the man in grey, but his Meow Meow would do just as well.

" You tell me who I am truly impersonating and I'll play nice. If not, then we'll play it another way. Either way suits me. I suspect it suits you as well."

" Very interesting. Surely you know there is no such person as I made the name up.”

“Did you now?” Sara tilted her head. Ears flicking back and forth as he continued.

” However, you do seem to know the man of whom I speak. What is your stake in this? Are you his dutiful sidekick? Perhaps his furry lover? Or does he just fill your milk bowl?"

Her right ear twitched as she was bothered by the thoughts that were just spouted from the man’s mouth, but unless you knew Sara well enough to know that was her I’m annoyed or bothered tell, one would just see an amused feline. Standing there with her tail twitching, and her head still tilted to the side. Ach! Luke and herself as a couple? YUCK! “I never kiss and tell, Sir.”

It was true. Sara knew very well that this Staff Made the name up. She not only knew that wraith was the one being impersonated, she had picked Luke out as Wraith when he was in his Wraith suit. Maybe before she had been hired by him, she would spill the beans to this imposter about the original. Maybe if he paid her enough, because Luke was too nice to be trust worthy. But things were different now, and too complicated for Sara to really think all of the details out at once, and it was in her best interest to keep Luke in good health. For the sake of her pocket cash, for Raina, and for her cochins, because… Just because.

" You tell me who I am truly impersonating and I'll play nice. If not, then we'll play it another way. Either way suits me. I suspect it suits you as well."

Sara shook her head and her hands raised to show they were empty, so that they were level with her shoulders. “I wont tell you a thing.”

Just flicks of tail and swivels of ear in response to his catcalling. Either she was full of resolve or something else and a good bluffer. Little quips and remarks were all she had, with this ridiculous bit of calling him Sir. Sir was a title of respect and she had none for him. One of those idiots on the street below would have been able to tell that much. Nevertheless, he was doubtful that she would just let it go. Roland certainly wouldn't. His whole schtick of wearing the costume and mask was to display the absurdity of it. He hid perfectly well in plain sight.

""Won't talk, huh? You are very confident in yourself. I appreciate that. I am sure your master would be proud of your loyalty. I suppose we must now make a round of banter and blows. Seems to be the way things work in this strange city. I'll go first." He began moving the staff in various katas and psuedo katas, mostly for show and misdirection. As his nhands were moving the staff, she was no doubt watching its movements and him. She more thanl likely was not watching his hands, assuming them full. Partially true. As the staff moved to one hand. a small detonator appeared in the other hand, kept hidden in palm by sinple hand gestures.

The staff spun around the wrist and then was thrown in a spear like fashion at Meow Meow. Knowing she more than likely had 'cat-like' reflexes, he used the same trick he had used on Miss Isabel at the Mansion. Once the staff left his hand and had its kinetic energy, he teleported it to six inches from her, so it would not lose its speed or flight capability. It would also be very hard to dodge. His steps went backward. Whether it landed in her hand or came near her, he would push the button. If it was thrown back at him, he would immediately return it to sender and press the button anyway.

Sara stood there waiting. They were being quite cordial tonight considering what was probably about to go on. Her furry eye brow rose when he started talking. She then laughed. “I have no master.” In fact if you asked Sara, she had almost no ties to slow her down from doing what ever she wanted to do.

He started flipping that staff around, and Sara shook her head. He was no gentleman was he. Not letting the lady go first. Still, Sara liked this order. She didn’t like making the first move in combat. So she stood there. Popping her right hip out, as she waited for him to finish his show and get the attack over with… Witch was becoming comparable to watching paint dry. Come on and make an actual move. Sara heard the voice in her head grumble.

Like the kitten that plays with their human, and attacks their human’s hand, instead of the toy, Sara’s eyes darted from the end of the staff, to his hands. Taking in speed, his ability to balance, and the pattern of his movement that looked like something was off. Sara couldn’t quite tell what but there was something different about the way the staff moved. It was breaking some sort of pattern. Then there was a smell that hit her nose. A sent that was sort of fanned her way but all the katas. Then as fast as Sara had wished to get things going, it was. Sara hadn’t had time to actually take in and think about the red flags her senses were trying to wave.

The Staff threw the staff at Sara, and it was suddenly right on her. Catching her with a painful thump, in the chest, and making her stumble back. He stepped back too? Then Sara caught that odd sent even stronger. Her primitive mind stuck the smell with the explosions she had recently experienced. Before she had finished taking the step back, from the stumble, Sara’s left hand smacked the staff to her right. Falling back she twisted and she tried to push off from the flipping staff before…

BOOOOM

Sara managed to twist away from the staff, and putting 5 feet between herself and the explosive. Shielding her face with her arm. Sara flipped as she was caught in part of the blast. She ended up over the edge of the building facing time square. Clinging to the brick work, just under the edge of the roof. There were holes in her coat with some nice burns that were showing up under her fur.

Feeling her skin stretch with the new burn, Sara grit her teeth tight together. Come one. Heal. She mentally kicked herself for suck gullibility. Mean while, the crowd below shrieked, and oohed. Their attention was caught by the explosion and someone started shining a light on the feline.

Great…

Once he stepped back after releasing the staff, Roland enjoyed the chaotic batting that Meow Meow made with the staff as it just seemed to follow her. He thought of a kitten idly attacking a toy with its paws, which made him grin beneath the hood. Its own weight and velocity had apparently injured her slightly and pushed her back toward the roof's edge. It was too bad that he had to end the show with a bang. He braced himself and covered his face with his forearm as the detonator switch was depressed.

The size and power of the explosion told him that he had shaped it right, yet he may have added a bit more than he should have. It was hard to overlook grudges, even when it wasn't business. Lesson learned. He was impressed with Meow Meow's agility and grace, as she managed to turn what would have surely been a mortal wound into a grazing blow, though it did send her over the edge. He heard the crowd below respond to both the sound and the appearance of the pretty kitty.

Roland began to make a slow pace across the rooftop, staying clear of the lights, pistol in hand. Judging from the 'ooh' and 'aah' sounds of the crowd, he assumed she was still hanging on, as it would have more than likely been a shrill screaming had she plummeted to the street below. Roland mulled over the various possibilities that lay before him. Should he approach the edge of the roof, he could leave himself open for a surprise attack as well as have to dumb down his routines to carry on the illusion of the zealous hero. He could also wait with the gun trained for Meow Meow to stick her big furry head up over the edge. The third option seemed best.

Roland took a few steps and then sprinted to the edge of the roof and leapt to the next building, which was a full story shorter than the one he had previously been on. The small structure which housed the stairwell entrance provided suitable cover and gave him enough range to see the cat coming, regardless of which side of the building she mounted. He stood against the edge of the structure, staying crouched, the silenced barrel waving in time to his own little singsong." Eeny Meeny Miney Mail, Catch a Meow Meow by the Tail, If she Falters, Let her Fail, Eeeny Meeny Miney Mail."

The explosion had managed to, not just burn a hold through Sara’s, new, coat. It managed to burn through her top, fur, and made her skin blister. Sara sucked in oxygen, her skin flexed, and she flinched. Burns were annoying. But at least she hadn’t been electrocuted.

Sara turned her attention back onto the roof. She could hear the almost quiet shifts of the Wraith look alike. She willed her burn to heal faster, not that she had any real control over her body’s healing process. Mean while she tried to decide if he was going look down over the edge at her, or if she should start making her way sideways along the side of the building. No way she was playing peek-a-boo when she had no idea what other weapons he might have.

Sara shifted her grip on the brick work. Angling her feet so that they were flat against the wall when he decided it was time to move. He sailed right over Sara, and she glared at him when he gave that mew, mew taunt. Sara kicked her heals off of the wall, clung to the bricks, and flipped her body around so her feet flipped over her head, and her legs coiled to brace against the bricks. So that her body was crouched horizontally.

Sara pushed off against the wall, propelling herself high into the air. Obove the next, lower roof. Her body twisted around trying to make herself a harder target to hit, and she aimed to bring her clawed feet down on the man’s chest.

The fleeting look of the angry kitty as Roland passed over her through the air was enough for the evening. Adding in his own small verse of song to turn the screwes was just something extra. He realized, however, that once he had landed that rather than have a superior view to fight from, he was going to get a uperior show of what he was really dealing with. No sooner than he had set himself in postion was the furious feline flipping and changing direction.

And leaping. Sailing high above him through the air and ready to draw blood. It briefly reminded Roland of an old Wild Kingdom he had seen once, when an angry Bengal tiger charged out of the brush at poor Marty. Only precision, muscles and perhaps even luck moved him back in a tuck roll as her weight came down to bear on the roof before him. As he rolled back, he brought himself up into a squat. The extension of her legs and the claws that extended from the feet, which actually dug into the concrete of the roof, gave him all the knowledge he needed to know. No playing around. Should she actually get in close, he would probably not live to tell the tale.

"Hell hath no fury like a Meow Meow scorn it seems. Here, a chew toy!" The taunting was now for a purpose other than mere ego stroking. He hoped that his continued verbal assaults would continue to keep her angry and off her game. He didn't need her thinking in a calm and decisive manner or his edge would be lost to the edges of her claws. The spare baton he hadn't thrown came out and went sailing, in the same teleported manner as the staff, toward her chin. He would have to stun her and open the distance between them if he was going to make it to the switch point.

Sara’s feet, and claws, went right into the roof of the building. Though not intended to. Her claws just naturally came out when her feet had that much pressure put to them. Her knees bent, absorbing the shock of her landing as if they were springs. Sara landed in a crouch, with her legs spread, slightly, and one hand on the roof, to steady herself.

"Hell hath no fury like a Meow Meow scorn it seems. Here, a chew toy!"

Sara’s eyes were dilated as she focused on the other mutant. Much the way house cat eyes work just before they pounce. She was settling into being more focused. Yeah what he had to say, did get to her at first. The hole jumping from the other building wasn’t something she would normally do to get at someone. She was mentally kicking herself for that. But at the same time, the way she saw this mutant’s powers working, she needed to stay close to him. His movement told Sara that a strike was coming. His taunt told her exactly where the strike was headed.

Her hand whipped up to her face to knock the staff to the side, while she pushed herself forward. The staff ws only diverted from it’s path by a couple of inches. Just enough for it not to hit her in the face. She pushed off of the ground, letting her feet take a sliding step forward. The staff was grabbed as the tail end was just barely passing her, and she reversed it’s direction. Jabbing the tail end, straight back at her taunter. Aiming for his chest. No doubt he’d move the staff again. The way he had before. So Sara added a kick to her attack. As soon as she had jammed the staff forward, she followed the motion of the jab, dropping lower to the floor and spinning her back leg around for the older gentleman’s knees. “Can old dogs learn new tricks?”

Roland had a good idea that the projectile would not hit its mark. It also seemed that the feline was becoming numb to his taunts and jibes as her instincts took over. The situation was going to turn ugly with a quickness unless he put some distance between them. The Baton was caught with tail and whipped back in his own direction. He merely caught sight of it and placed it back into the sheath on his back.

Her strength and quickness was indeed superhuman. He barely skidded out of range of the jab, his legs trying to react as quickly as possible, though sorely outclassed by her raw power. Her own taunt about old dogs and new tricks would glean success for her, as the back leg sweep came as a complete surprise to Roland. That is, until he was on his back. His legs were throbbing already, pain shooting up his legs. He had no doubt that were he completely stationary, he would have broken legs.

It was evident that time for fun comments and the like was over. He imagined that in the brief second or two he had for her to gloat or go for the throat would be enough. He groaned in pain for a reaction, though it did hurt a good deal. His right arm raised in defiance, the pistol now in hand opened fire, casings hitting the concrete beneath him until the clip was empty. It wasn't that he wanted her to die. He wasn't even sure if the bullets would penetrate such a beast. He only hoped for the time to get to the point, which was in sight now.