Gotham City (No Mans Land) late one night

Catwoman, who had only recently come back from Manhattan to help Batman, was taking down some clowns from Joker's gang. Her fighting skills were more than a match for even the best of these fools, and they fell to her clawed fists and jabbing legs in short order. It was still a bit of a workout for Selina, and after she mopped the floor with them, she stood there with her hands on her hips, shaking her head. She mused aloud, to herself, "Man, that was a hard day's and night's work; I wonder what will come next. Since the day I returned to Gotham, I've just gone from one fight to another. I am one tired kitty, and I'm going to my lair to take a rest."

Just then, she looked up and saw a strange ball of light appear in the dark sky overhead, bright enough to hurt her eyes. The oddly glowing orb hovered for a while, then fell from the sky like a blazing meteorite. Shortly thereafter, her radio beeped; Selina reached to her belt, and clicked open the line. "Yes, Oracle? Catwoman here."

"Catwoman, did you happen to see a falling ball of light?"

"Yeah, it was kind of hard to miss; it nearly blinded me."

"Okay, listen carefully. That light has fallen in Penguin's grounds. We need you to investigate it. If it was a chopper going down, call me and I will send a rescue team your way. If it was something supernatural, call Nightwing; he can help with it, okay?"

"All right. I was all set to go take a catnap, but I'll check it out for you, Oracle. Out."
After walking three blocks, Catwoman found the ball of light. From where she was, it appeared to be a small, still glowing meteor, that was fading fast. Around it were some men, watching it without making any movements. To heck with calling Nightwing; if they were going to stand there like inviting targets, Selina figured she could handle it by herself. Not one to ignore a golden opportunity like this, she took the chance and jumped them. To her great surprise, Catwoman found that as she came in contact with each of them, they fell to the ground from the first kick or punch. This had her more than a bit puzzled, and she said to herself, "Hmm, something here is not what it seems..."

As she was pondering this, the meteor, which now appeared to be a metallic orb from closer up, started glowing again, and Selina heard a voice in her head. "You are a human with skills far above those whose minds I fried. I see that you call yourself Catwoman. Would you care to join me?"

"Huh? Who...or rather, what are you?" she said aloud. 'I'd better let Oracle know about this...' she thought. Catwoman started to reach for the radio switch on her belt.

"You need not speak orally. Just think what you wish to say, and I will hear you. Please keep this between just you and me, and leave Oracle out of it. Now then, you could never understand what I am. You would need to have a megagenius intelligence and study for over two hundred of your years to understand what I am."

"Okay, if you say so; if you're so fantastic, though, what do you want me for?"

"I need someone like you to take over a universe."

"Oh, sorry. I promised Batman I would never do evil again here."

"Since when is taking over a universe necessarily evil? And who said it would be here? I will take you to another, completely different universe, where you would be my agent for taking over."

Selina started to think about what she stood to lose, without realizing that her thoughts were no different to the entity than the odd conversation they'd been having, and it heard all of them. Was it the ruined city, or the insane Joker, and Batman, who seemed to be going that way? He showed no sign of ever returning her love, so why stay for him? She put her clawed fists on her hips in a powerful pose as if to display strength, and told him (she, it?), "Okay, what will you get out of this, and helping me? I hope there is no soul taking, or anything."

"No, my dear, nothing like that. It will just bring me great happiness to see my archenemy suffering."

"So you want to take me to another universe, and want me to act as a hit man for you?"

"No, no, my dear Catwoman! I want you to rule the other universe!"

"Okaaaaay, what have I got to lose?!" Just then, before she knew what was happening, Catwoman was enveloped in a white light. When the glow subsided, she found herself high on a skyscraper rooftop. When Selina looked around, there was no sign of anyone else around her. However, she did notice that her costume had been altered. Radically.

Gone were her purple spandex catsuit and flat heeled black thigh high boots. She was now wearing a shiny black latex catsuit, with ultra high stiletto heeled glossy black latex boots that came almost to her crotch. Her bullwhip was no longer stuck into the top of her boot, but was attached to a belt riding low on her hips. Since her shoulder length gloves were also in the same material as her boots, Selina assumed that her cowl was now black, also. She found that she had a black cape clipped to her shoulders, and she could sense that her long black hair was streaming down her back over the cape.

Selina was surprised to find that there was a red ruby in a ring on her right hand. A green ruby adorned her left hand. Then Catwoman heard the voice in her head again, which said, "I hope you like your new garments. I made a few modifications to the old version."

"Just a few!? I look more like a dominatrix now! I'm a picture in pure black. I love the new costume, though; in fact, it's rather similar to one I once wore a long time ago," she said, "but what are these rubies?" Selina held her clawed hands spread out before her face, palms away from her.

"Well, dear, you don't want to take over a universe without powers! Also, I don't think you want to hold them that way, pointing into your own face. The red ruby will work like the old wand of Circe, only better, changing objects or persons to whatever you please. The green one will work like the cat's eye, but with more power, giving you instant control over anyone in its thrall. So, I hope you like my gifts...oh, and I think you should try them now, because here comes one of the heroines of this universe."

Sure enough, at that moment, a tall woman landed in front of her with catlike grace. The woman was lithe and strong, and had gloriously long white hair. Her costume was another black catsuit, but in a softer, less shiny material, with fringed white gloves and boots. She challenged Catwoman, "Who are you?"

"I am Catwoman. Who are you?"

"Well, that's a coincidence! I'm called the Black Cat. I hope you're one of the good guys, 'cause I hate fighting anyone with a good body, and..."

"Now, now, let's not get touchy! Why don't you look into this ring on my hand? You'll learn all you need to know..." Catwoman held out her left hand, with the green ruby glowing.

"What is this?! That green gem is glowing with a strange light, and I can't take my eyes off it. I feel strange, what is it..." Her voice fell silent, and the Black Cat froze as she fell into a trance.

Catwoman looked directly into her eyes, and said, "Who are you?"

"I am the Black Cat."

"And who do you serve?"

"I serve only my Mistress, Catwoman."

"Good, good. Now, take me to your home. I want to take a rest, and I want you to tell me more about this place."

"Yes, Mistress, as you command."

* * * * *

In the Black Cat's apartment, Catwoman was resting on the couch, getting her long delayed catnap, with her chattel guarding over her. Black Cat was admiring the sleek black form of her Mistress, and eventually saw her eyes flicker open once again. They had a particularly evil glint in them that hadn't been there before. The voice in Selina's head had taken the opportunity to subvert her subconscious while Catwoman was napping. She no longer had any feelings of heroism within her. Catwoman was now an evil Queen, with a universe to subjugate.

She called the Black Cat to her side as she sat up.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"Look, Black Cat, I want you to answer my questions."

"Yes, Mistress! Of course!"

"What do you call this universe?"

"It is called the Marvel Universe, Mistress."

"Marvel, eh? Now, tell me about the superheroes and superheroines you've got in this universe. Tell me about all the powerhouses you have."

"Yes, Mistress..." She started telling Catwoman all about the Marvel Universe.

"Hmm, this sounds great; I can rule here, but I think that before we can strike at any of these people, like the X-Men or Avengers, I must have more subjects to help me. To do that, I think we should go to Boston and visit the Gen-X school. Slave, prepare my car."

"Yes, Mistress."