Morning had come, and on the grounds of Wayne Manor, it left a coating of spring dew.

All Ivy could do was stare across the green lawn. Watch the wind tug at the trees. Glance at all the flowers starting to unfurl to the beaming light.

Morning was supposed to be her time. Before the plights of the day, and the anxious pauses of the night.

Instead, she was left trying to process what Bruce had just told her. Trying to wrap her head around how things had gone so badly, so abruptly. Trying not to let it all erupt out in another meltdown.

So far, she was stuck in emotional blackout. Total despair. Powerless, aimless, helpless.

No connection to the plantlife to seek out harmonious voices of consolation. No contact for outreach with Dinah, Helena or Mari, or even Selina for that matter. Running back to Themyscira was never going to happen when she didn't know if Harley was safe.

As much as she wanted to turn to Bruce for support once again. To let it all out while resting against his shoulder. It was one thing in the fallout of an awful break-up, when she had crossed a line that left herself so gutted that nothing else mattered.

It was quite another to knowingly begin repeating history. The devastation she had felt over nearly losing a fiancee, leading into one of the worst decisions of her life. Not for the immediate consequences, but for what it left her vulnerable to.

No-one to turn to. Nowhere to go. Nothing she could do herself.

"This is what I did to other people. Innocent people. Isn't it?"

Her fists tightened, then relaxed. More than ever, she just wanted one plant to respond to her call. Not even to lash out in attack. A simple acknowledgement of her presence.

"I told Barbara I didn't see myself moving beyond what I've done in the past. And I was right. I'm never going to escape it." When nothing responded to her call, she clasped her arms up tight instead. "I hurt everyone around me, always. I'm still..."

A sharp pain in her chest kept her from saying it. The obvious, bitter fact of her existence. The namesake she had tried to shed still held true, perhaps more than ever now that it was no longer intentional. Just part of her nature.

The entire time, Bruce had kept his distance, merely standing in the vicinity in silence. He knew all too well the need to let out the burdens, to find ways to express them. What she needed was someone to listen, something he had failed to do for her in the past. Now was the time to change things.

"Ivy, I know that there is nothing I can say that will ease what you're going through. Words can wait until this crisis has been dealt with. And I am going to do just that. Every resource I have on hand is being put towards ensuring tonight's raid ends without bloodshed. Harley's especially."

Bruce stepped forward at that. Just enough to make clear he was truly sincere about his promises. "Tim and I will do everything we can to rescue her."

Shivering at the sudden sensation of cold, Ivy shifted her hands further up her arms. She didn't have the stomach to turn and look at Bruce yet. "And the others?"

"Kate isn't in the country, and Tiffany is boarding a plane with her family in a couple of hours. I have a feeling Haimes or one of his buyers might try something tonight, so I want Dick on patrol where possible. We will still make it work, Ivy."

Following a shuddering breath, she worked up enough composure to start turning her head. Not enough to look at him just yet. "Until then, I sit here and worry?"

"The Batmobile is secure enough for you to be there on site, provided you're willing to stay put. The alternative is helping with surveillance at the Watchtower." Bruce sighed with another frown, directed at himself. "I know you might want to get directly involved. But I think Haimes shooting you in the abdomen was as clear as any message gets. He won't hold back around you."

Ivy shook her head slowly. Her last efforts to try and rationalize it all out were slipping away. Like the melody that gave her focus and cause. Too much time left to grow anxious, but not enough time to try and ready herself for participating in the fight to come.

"I'll come. I'll come and sit there on the sidelines, and watch." She shook her head again, trying to hold back the emotional outburst that had remained subdued. "I wish I had anything on the verge of being ready. Anything that would actually help."

"I know, Ivy. At least you'll be on hand when we do rescue Harley. Whatever's happened to her, physically, you're the most qualified person to treat it. Help doesn't have to be immediate to be important, and worthwhile."


On one of the few open floors in Ace Chemicals, the majority of those armed and trained had gathered, all others sent home early to keep the way clear.

A veritable crowd of ex-soldiers, loyal to the paycheck, which currently flowed from Haimes.

He approached one of the railings high above the floor at that moment, mask hanging to one side, a pistol at the other.

"Allow me to get right to the point. The infamous Batman has come out of his leave-of-absence, which has unfortunately put rather a crunch on the timeframe I had planned. He will be coming for us, and GCPD will be close behind like the lapdogs they are."

When the murmuring began, he flashed a smile. "You all agreed to the understanding that arrest was a possibility in this line of work. But Gotham's legal system has always had a hard time making those charges stick. And, more importantly, all your assets are out of reach. I've made doubly sure of that after that unfortunate theft prior to Valentine's Day."

It reassured the gathering below enough to his satisfaction. Any minor dissent that might have sprung up was unlikely to be acted upon.

"You're not paid to kill cops. So don't. You're not paid to kill costumed vigilantes, so don't. What you are paid to do, is to make things as hellishly difficult for them as possible. You are deterrants, not executioners. I've never asked any one of you to add to your own blood ledger. All we do is pass along the guns to those who are simply lacking in a moral compass, and let the sins befall them as they will. Can I assume that you are all still happy with these terms?"

The gathering began to mumble in a more positive aspect, ending with a rather unilateral 'yes'.

"Make no mistake. Black Mask and the Penguin have invested interest in their supply continuing uninterrupted, and Two-Face has made clear he'd rather deal with me, than with the Triads or mafia he intends to oust. But, there are plenty of other gangs in this city, and if they decide to, say, take advantage of our night of strife…"

Haimes cracked his grin wider, lifting both hands up to outstretch towards the gathering.

"Well, nobody ever lost sleep over gunning down thugs, murderers, and whatever other vile labels you are more than free to attach to such gangs. Remnants of Joker's clowns, Bane's cartel, Thorne's circles, or the previous mentioned global operations. If you see them, then by all means, let out some of that sadistic lust that make you ideal PMC material. Because, unlike local law enforcement and the caped crusaders, they're not even really human anymore."

The rising cheer from the crowd filled the factory. Soon, guns went up into the air, followed by the onset of chanting.

"I know a number of you have a bone to pick with our imprisoned guest, Dr Harley Quinn! Rest assured, I think you'll all be satisfied with the work I plan to utilize her for. And the results I extract from that work will benefit not just you, but all those who truly seek a better world. My mission has never changed! And it never will!"

When the cheer turned into an uproar, Haimes finally donned the mask, gripping at the rail tightly as he took in the celebratory cries.

"Hold to your posts! Don't let the Batman or any other deter you from preserving this vision! When I come back to Gotham, it will be with the world signing gratitude for what I have given them! And I will have every one of you to thank for it!"

As the crowd began to disperse to their posts and patrols, he smiled triumphantly behind the mask.

"And if perchance, Dr Isley has the gall to show her face around these parts again, bring her in alive! Intact or otherwise, I leave up to your own discretion."


Locked away in that room, watched by two guards at all times. Unable to escape, either physically or mentally. The handcuffs that bound her to the bolted chair were digging into her skin. Anchoring her to that makeshift cell, keeping her from trying to retreat out of reality on her own terms.

Left to wallow in the ebb and flow of the concentrated pheromones coursing through her body, in far higher doses than Poison Ivy would have ever used. Even at the height of villainy.

Barely enough time in the ebbs to toy with weaking her bindings as subtly as she could. The ankle straps had been loosened a bit through careful stretching and easing of the leather, but not nearly enough to squeeze her feet through in a pinch. And while she could in theory escape the handcuffs, there still wouldn't be enough time to unbind her feet before they opened fire.

Especially not when the risk of another pheromone phase kicking in at a bad time was hanging over her head. Some affected her perception of reality partially, others launched her into full hallucination. She couldn't take the chance of blacking out when making for a weapon.

Her controlled struggling against the bindings came to an end. The next wave of pheromones began to take hold.

Teeth grinding, eyes dilating, she threw her head back with another screech.

It felt like she had just thrown her entire body back into a void. She could see the ceiling and room formerly surrounding her. A shrinking box of reality against the empty black.

Somewhere into the long fall, she landed on a solid surface. The chair and bindings fell away like vapour on the wind, leaving her in a crumple.

Within seconds, the blank surface below turned to rich grass. Vines curled around under her form, helping to uncrumple her limbs, and eventually stand.

Dazed from the fall, she reached both hands to her head, obscuring her vision as she heard the vines retreat back. What she could see let her glimpse the spread of the grass below. Outwards in a radius at first, then stopping at a rough edge to either side, while continuing on forwards. A path through the emptiness.

"God, Ivy I…"

When she lifted her head, she didn't see Ivy, either in person, or vague shape. It was someone different, a slightly larger silhouette, barely visible against the rest of the inky black.

"You will knock at the fiery door again. Your fear will be our salvation."

"What?"

The mysterious figure tilted her head, then vanished into a fluttering cloud of what looked like leaves. Evident by the shapes obscuring the path beyond, before they were lost to the void.

"Great. Hang around with Ivy long enough, ya start comin' up with ya own plant-people. Or Juniper's decided to pay a visit from the afterlife. And you're talkin' to yourself again, Harls."

She put a hand to her hip, waiting to see if anything else would manifest. When nothing appeared, she dropped that hand and continued along the grassy path laid out for her.

"Alright, let's get the psycho-mindscape bullshit over with. What'a ya got, Pheromone-Junkie-Harls?"

The path began to wither and rot beneath her feet, spreading forwards and backwards. The miniscule patch of green in the void was being snatched away by murky grey.

Harley's skin went cold when it clicked over as to who was appearing next.

Out from the darkness sauntered the ancient hag witch, the Enchantress. Even in hallucinations, the mild grime that stained her clothes, medallion and face was perpetual. Just as it was in the waking world, her every step had a wafting manner to it.

"Tch, Harley, darling. What a mess you've fallen into. Shall I pluck you free of it, again?"

All the sarcasm had fled Harley by then, leaving behind the defiant stare as she watched Enchantress move closer. One of the few beings that could appear in her deranged state of mind, and truly be either one such delusion, or the real deal.

"I don't need your help. If Waller-"

"Waller, Waller. Come now, we don't need to keep making this about dear Mandy." Enchantress snickered with great malice, starting to circle around Harley while tracing a finger along her shoulders, and then the back of her neck. "Clearly we have some unfinished issues. Rumours being what they are, and a particularly loud namedrop of someone out to harm you. June was rather upset to see her favourite villainess couple splitting up I will say."

Harley wanted to look away. To turn and run, even knowing there was nowhere to go. The way that Enchantress slithered around her mind and nerves, knowing just what would get her riled up and anxious. Like the Joker, she clearly enjoyed being tormentative.

"We're not villains, and we're not splitting up."

"Oh?" Enchantress feigned surprise while putting a finger to her chin. "Then I must have misheard that nasty report about you gunning down those poor people. Or beating up that cute queer cosplayer. Or outing your girlfriend as a scandal victim, in front of the breadth of the internet."

That struck Harley deep, enough to actually make her turn away, and start to walk off. She didn't get far before the squelch of the rotting grass sickened her so much that she had to return to a standstill.

"Harley, dear, don't feel bad. She's done far more deplorable things after all. You said it yourself, she was only just barely holding back from crossing that fragile line. And that's ignoring the body count she's racked up while trying to appease the Green."

With another cackle, Enchantress reappeared directly in front of Harley, grinning at the flinch she got in response. "All living things die, Harley! The Grey will consume it all!" She backed off with a lighter smirk, giving a flair of her hand when extending it. "How about we watch the glorious decay together, hm? Has Poison Ivy ever offered to bring you into the Green with her? A salvation from all the abuse and torment of the world?"

Harley scrunched up her fist. For once, she had a chance to bite back against what was now feeling more like a product of her own paranoia, and not the real deal after all.

"Yes, and I told her no. She knows I'm happy the way I am."

"You poor thing, Harls." Enchantress snickered again, reaching her finger out to Harley's lips once more. "That's why she's always walked out on you in the past. She can always find someone better. Because who you are, well, it simply isn't good enough for her. Or anyone, really."

When the laughter picked up again, Harley took a swing.

Her fist connected only with cold mist; Enchantress vanishing right before her eyes into the dark ether once again. That hag's cackle of hers continued on however, echoing on and on. Slowly, bit by bit, starting to shift in pitch.

The rot in the grass vanished, allowing the greenery to take hold once again. More than that, vines and roots spread out from it, snaking further into the void, off the previous borders of the path.

Harley felt a twinge in her chest, a feeling of familiarity. She turned around, ready to try striking Enchantress again.

Instead, she saw Ivy, a couple metres away. She was different in appearance from her current casual look, or even any of the previous styles she had taken on. There was a far greater emphasis on regality to the moss that draped around her form, entwined with delicate flowers. What stood out most however was the crown of hardened, thorny vines.

"Red? What's-"

The alternate Poison Ivy shook her head, smirking as she reached her right hand out. From the void, Wonder Woman stepped into view, approaching on call with a blissful smile on her lips. She did the same with her right hand, calling Superman to her side as well.

"Red's gone, Quinn. You picked her over me, it's only fair that I even the score."

Once in reach, Diana took the beckoning hand in her own, guiding it to her cheek as she moved closer to her summoner. Leaning in close for a gentle kiss in exchange, sending a green flare through her eyes.

In the wake of what Enchantress had mocked her with, Harley felt her stomach churning at the sight. Not because she was being abandoned for 'someone better', but that Ivy was back at the core of her controlling ways.

It was doubled down when the same happened with Superman, the boyish smile on his lips utterly betrayed by the enthralled glean in his eyes. Seeing him cradle Poison Ivy as they too moved into a kiss was horrifying in so many ways.

With the two heroes at her side, she reached both hands away from stroking their faces to snap her fingers. More people, heroes and civilians alike, began to emerge from the void as well. All enthralled into adoration.

"This is how it was always going to be, Harlequin. You're the court jester, the trickster, the hidden knife. And you've betrayed your Queen one too many times. You're not welcome in my dominion anymore. Now that everyone loves me, I don't need you."

The moment Harley tried to run, two people grabbed her fiercely. Even at a glance, she recognized Mood Master's mask immediately, which wasn't all that surprising under the circumstances. When she looked to the other, she tried to scream in horror, only to find herself choking.

Gagging, gasping, vomiting up flowers that spontaneously blocked her throat.

"Now now, Harley, you know better than to disrespect royalty. I taught you better than that!"

The Joker and Mood Master threw her to the grass in union, laughing in their own ways as she crumpled at Queen Ivy's feet.

She was still coughing up petals and green matter when she felt fingers grasping her chin, making her tilt her head upwards.

It wasn't Queen Ivy's hand.

"You got him killed, Bleach! The only one who actually understood me!"

The last thing Harley saw in her spiralling psychotic vision was Punchline, standing over her with a fierce scowl, plunging a glittering sai directly into her forehead.

In the real world, the chorus of agonized, terrified screams began all over again.


The moment the last page printed out , Gordon snatched the whole stack up and made for the door. Outside his office, there was quite a bit of activity. Everyone who was available had been called in for the coming evening, whether they were on the raid squad or set for patrol of the city.

Stuffing the warrant papers under his arm, Gordon waved Montoya over while setting up for a loud whistle. When she was in position, he blared it out, getting the attention of the entire office floor in one swoop.

"Alright people! The DA just sent through the search-and-detain warrant for Ace Chemicals! The balloon is going up, so listen out and pay attention! We are not going to mess this one up just because someone was busy on their phone!"

Montoya rolled her eyes upon noticing some of the officers not so subtly putting their phones down following that last part.

Once assured of their attention, Gordon retrieved the warrant papers and handed them over to her. "Nothing about the plan we've been going over the past week has changed! Detective Montoya will still be commanding this op! Detective Bullock will be in charge here, unless there are other emergencies, in which case he will be taking point in the field! My job is to coordinate the hazardous chemical teams, and bring in anyone Blackgate can spare as extra muscle once arrests are made! You've all been given your assignments, now I'm handing off to Renee!"

After the morning she had been through, it had taken an awfully long midday psych-out to ready herself mentally for the night. Now that the moment of truth was at hand, Montoya had as strong a grip she was going to get on it all. No-one was calling her Clown Killer any longer.

"You might've heard that Batman is back on the scene! You might've also heard he's gonna be helping out on this one! Let me say it right now; don't rely on him! Don't expect him to come save your ass if one of Haimes' thugs gets the drop on you! Don't expect him to stop stray bullets from landing us with a grievous bodily harm lawsuit! He's there to get Quinn out first and foremost, in his own words! He is not our backup! He's here to make sure this doesn't turn into a hostage siege! Don't get in the way of that!"

A round of hushed exchanges went around the gathering. After a bit, one of the junior officers spoke up.

"So, are we lettin' Batman walk away with her too? After all the crap she's pulled?"

"We're gonna have a hell of a job on our hands as is! For all of you who weren't here some years ago, ask anyone who was just what Amanda Waller is like in person! We've got enough heat on our asses between political crackdowns and a PMC backed up by an entire law firm without crossing a federal shadow agency! So yeah, Batman and Waller can take Quinn! That clear enough?"

The murmuring that followed seemed to affirm that it was. Montoya reached for her throat shortly after, a simple signal for Gordon to take the lead for a while.

"As she was saying, Haimes has the money to back up possibly the biggest legal defence we've ever come up against. Everyone will be on cameras, everyone will be thoroughly debriefed, and everyone will likely be expected to testify whenever this gets to court. There may be civilians still on site when we go in, so for the love of God please don't get quick on the trigger! If you are one hundred percent sure your life is being threatened, or they are actively firing on you, then do what you have to! Don't leave people with permanent injuries, and don't rough 'em up just to get some aggression out!"

Montoya swallowed, trying her best to hide how much pain was welling in her throat at that moment that hadn't come from the shouting.

"Once the building is locked down and secured, let the hazard team do their job! Keep an eye on them, and don't touch anything you see. We have confirmation from Batman that Cloudburst was used at the club, and is in all likelihood being contained on site. Owens is still being treated for his exposure to it, and if that's not reason enough to know not to mess with it…"

Once the point had sunken in, Montoya took over once again. "We're going full tactical on this one. Log your armour, helmets, and weapons. They all need to pass inspection once they're handed back in. If you're hit, even if your vest stops a bullet, you pull back immediately! They will not hold up against sustained fire, which is exactly what we're heading into! So, don't be stupid, and don't be a fucking cowboy like Vigilante!"

"He hasn't been a cowboy for years! New Vigilante's some kid in a bodysuit!"

The eyeroll returned, that time ending with Montoya putting a finger and thumb to her eyes in exasperation.

"Who the fuck cares? Point is, if there was ever a time to actually follow regulations and protocol to the absolute letter, this is the night! It's a game show where you will be deducted points for stepping an inch out of line, and I'll be the one pulling the trapdoor lever on anyone who doesn't have full marks by the time it's over! Don't bother looking for the trapdoor, it's there, and you won't like what's below! Believe me! And no, I haven't been drinking!"

Before the self-undermining could continue, Gordon cleared his throat for one final remark. "We're on track for the charity ball in a few months. I won't jinx it by saying this'll be our last big operation until then, but I do expect this one to be the most flawless we've had in years. We're not going to win back the city's opinion overnight, but it'll be a start. Let's pull it together, people!"

While the gathering began to disperse, he subtly took Montoya aside, further back towards his office. "Now's as good a time as any to-"

"I'm not putting on a brave face, Jim. I can handle this." She put her hands to her hips, casting a glance at some of the people she was set to lead in a few hours. "Eight years of weeding and it still feels like herding gatos sometimes."

Gordon scoffed in amusement. "That it does. Better than herding pitbulls, or whatever you'd call them."

"Perros." Montoya shook her head afterwards, tightening her lips. "I'm still good for vacation once this is over? Promised Harv I'd take it. And, after what you heard this morning-"

"Renee, you don't need to worry. After all the judgement you've been put through, hell if I'm ever going to add to it. Do what you have to, that's all I'd ever ask."

She managed a weak smile. It was still taking a lot of mental fortitude to keep herself from going completely off the rails now that the moment of truth was approaching. But, she was getting better than she had been hours earlier.

"Telling Batman off was a start. Haven't felt this relieved in a long time. I got it under control, Commish."


The afternoon had come and gone. Outside on the surface, the sun was on descent, ready to cast Gotham in darkness yet again. Everything was in motion, and it was no truer than in the Batcave as various mechanisms swung into life at Bruce's arrival.

Right behind him on the stairs, Ivy, Alfred and Tim were all following at a brisk pace. The last of their respective daily obligations were over. Now was the time for action.

For Ivy, the action waited a little longer as she took a moment to just watch the automatic preparation of the Batmobile, as well as the literal unfolding of the armoury. Her previous visits had only been after the fact.

"Prepared for unwelcome visitors down here too?"

"An incident with Clayface. The second one." That time it was Tim who answered first, continuing on towards the Batcomputer while Bruce and Alfred went to the armoury.

Curious about that much, Ivy decided to follow him first, heading over to the glaring screens once her eyes had adjusted. "I've only hung out with Basil a couple times. Guess I missed the memo on there being more."

Tim smirked with a tilt of his head, tapping away at one of the many keyboards before him. "Much as I'd like to give you the basic rundown on Matt Hagen, we do have an operation to get to. If you can use that console there-" He gestured to a keyboard over to his right, matched to a smaller screen on the side. "-I'll list off search keywords. Keep them on refresh. It's all SEO about crimes in progress and that."

"SEO?" After a bit of thought, Ivy rolled her eyes and got to work. "Right, search engine optimization. I may have been completely cut off from the outside world during various stages of my life, but I do keep up with whatever lingo they decide to throw out. Sometimes."

"I'm no Tiffany or Barbara either, don't worry about it. Bruce said you were struggling to feel useful, so I'm doing what I can."

"Pretty sure you don't need me to type in keywords."

"I happen to be compiling a 3D render of Ace Chemicals with a composite of the known floor plans, and Babs is feeding in what scans she can get of the new layout while piloting over a dozen drones at once. Checking through breaking headlines and police call-ins? Yeah, we do need a third for that."

Ivy swallowed lightly, taking it to heart, then turned to begin doing just that. "I'm seeing pity everywhere. Too much time to think about all the things I'm useless at now."

"I get it. Kind of." He gave a light roll of the shoulder in question, gesturing near where the bullet had struck him. "I keep thinking how it could've been worse. If it struck closer to the bone, or if it missed some of the suit's padding. Then, Tiffany's near miss happened, and now I'm just glad it wasn't worse."

They both went quiet after that, save for the readout of keywords. Files and links began to cycle through the smaller display immediately after, blaring past Ivy's eyes so fast that she had to look away for a bit. It brought her back to the pressing concern raised.

"I should've tried to go see her off. Rather than wallowing in misery while Bruce went alone."

"I went as well. She's still upset with Bruce, and I'm usually the buffer guy, so yeah." Tim shrugged with a bit of bemusement. "I think she'll be okay, when she gets back. Getting shot at for the first time, it upsets everyone."

"Yeah." Ivy tried glancing at the display again. It had slowed down considerably, now focusing more on events tied to the nightclub attack that morning. "It was uh, when Harvey and I were still dating, not too long before the engagement."

It took a few seconds to register for Tim. When it did, he left the render to run its course while turning to face her, giving his full attention.

The small but meaningful gesture made Ivy smile a little in the face of her reminiscence. "Some backstreet loser tried to come at me with a cup of acid. Probably hired by Thorne, I was too upset at the time to ask. Harv, he managed to knock it away without getting a drop on his suit. Then, the gun came out."

She shrugged a little herself. In hindsight, it all felt so basic. Eleven years had changed her into a literal new person after all.

"I remember feeling this burning sensation between my arm and ribs. The actual sound never really registered. Then, that guy was on the ground, and Harv was pummeling him. He'd been the absolute gentlest soul around me, I never for a moment imagined he could be so brutal."

An ironic smile capped off the moment for her. "All the signs were there. I just kept smiling like any politician's future wife. Before the speech, and the hospital."

Tim nodded sagely, turning back to the large display when he noticed Bruce and Alfred approaching. Not that they'd disapprove of the chatter, but he really couldn't think of anything to say in consolation to Ivy.

When Bruce neared them, he sighed in mild defeat, looking right to her.

"I thought about what you said this morning. If I hadn't needed to be in at the office all day, I might've been able to finish a prototype non-lethal wristbow I've been thinking about. But, there's no way to get it functional before we have to leave."

"You kept one of the old ones? I'm touched."

Bruce took the lighter remark for what it was worth. "After this is over, we can sit down and refine it together." He looked to Tim immediately after. "How's the floor plan looking? Did Barbara find any unlisted renovations or false walls?"

"Nothing useful, sorry." Barbara's voice came through, a video feed popping up in the corner of the main screen at the same time. "Haimes must've expected more drones after the convoy attack. He's got marksmen picking off any drones they see, and there's too much interference to pilot micro drones inside. Until you're there in person, this is the best we have."

Tim gave a belated shrug while switching the 3D model into a floor-by-floor display. "A lot of the offices were moved out of the old brickwork building to the newer steel extension. Harley could be in either wing; I don't think they'd keep her on the factory floor. Too many things to grab, places to knock people around, and so on."

"We'll co-ordinate our approach once we're on site. We take a wing each, scan for life signs while building a digital map of the layout, then regroup for the rescue. Once she's secure, we signal GCPD to move in. I'll extract Harley alone if you feel capable of running interference for the raid. Montoya knows it's not a guarantee."

"You got it, Bruce."

He nodded in response, then looked up to the screen again. "Oracle, pull back the drones now. Don't redeploy them until Robin and I are on site. Let the snipers get complacent, then mark them out when we're ready to move in and neutralize them."

"On it. I've pinged the locations of the damaged drones to the Batmobile's GPS, but some were destroyed before they hit the ground. You'll have to find and retrieve what's left before you wrap up."

Ivy gave a bemused look at that. "Which'll be my job, seeing as I can't do anything else useful once we get there."

As soon as the attention turned to her, she tried to shrug it off. "Sorry, that was..." A sigh followed, along with a shake of her head. "You were right this morning, Bruce. I just have to be there for Harley once its over, and let others do what they need to. I'll sit in the car until then."

"This will be the only time, Ivy. We'll do what it takes to bring you up to speed pnce we're out of the woods. Now is the time to focus on saving Harley, and taking down Haimes." Bruce backed away from the chair, clapping his hands together. "Tim, let's suit up. Ivy, keep monitoring the feed until Alfred takes over. Head to the Batmobile when he does."

She nodded at that, glancing across the cave to where it was waiting. "Back seat?"

"Passenger." Tim reached into his pocket to retrieve a set of keys, giving them a twirl before pressing on the remote. On call, a red-yellow motorcycle rolled out onto the vehicle pad, prompting him to flash a smile at her. "It's eco-friendly. Carpooling doesn't always work for vigilantes."

Across the cave, Bruce tapped his foot. "Being prompt about preparation, on the other hand..."

Tim shrugged to Ivy while picking up the pace, following Bruce through to the cubicles behind the suit display.

Alfred soon took his place at the Batcomputer, looking quite calm and composed while settling in.

"Before you leave, is there anything at all I might prepare for your return? You need only ask."

Ivy just shook her head sagely. Even then, her appetite felt lacking, and a high tension wait wasn't going to ease the unsettled feeling.

"I'll stomach takeaway if I have to. I just don't know what I might need when we get back, Alfred."

"I always hope for the best, Miss Ivy. The universe has a way of surprising us all, even at the worst of times."

The evershining optimism made her smile, even though the rest of her face was more sullen. "Actually, come to think of it, is there anyone you could ask to go check on Harley's hyenas? I blanked out on them all day."

"That's quite understandable after what you've been through. Fortunately, Miss Quinn had the foresight to ask me to see to their wellbeing in her, at the time, theoretical absence. They're being cared for at a private shelter."

"Good. She shouldn't have to lose them too."

"And she won't. I just hope she can provide them with nearly the same level of grooming that I imagine they've being given at this very moment."

Having seen the state of Harley's place, Ivy smirked just a little. Daisy and May did seem happy living there at least, and she wasn't remotely about to judge Harley on it, knowing what she did.

"She will, when things get better."

"And there you see, you're already thinking of better times. Try to hold onto those feelings, Miss Ivy. They are what keeps us all human. Partially in your case anyway."

Before Ivy could respond, she heard footsteps from further down the cave. Batman and Robin had returned, ready for departure.

"Ivy, anything we need to be aware of?"

She took one last look at the news feed before shrugging it off. "Nothing major. GCPD's covering what they can."

"Then let's go. Nightwing's already on patrol, and Detective Montoya will be rallying the task force as we speak."

With an appreciative hand on Alfred's shoulder, Ivy left her seat to descend towards the Batmobile's platform. She had been in and out of the Batcave freely a few times now. But to be actually joining Batman in departing for a mission still felt surreal. A needed distraction from the constant worry looming over.

It doubled over when she was getting into the Batmobile itself. That wasn't a first for her, but the circumstances were very different back then.

"I'm feeling nostalgic, all of a sudden."

Despite the gravity of the situation, or perhaps in need because of it, Batman smiled a little.

"I know. This will be different from last time, I hope?"

"Yeah." Ivy leaned back into the chair, bracing herself for the blasting acceleration out of the cave. "Let's get Harley back."


The next several minutes were tense for Barbara.

Outside of Nightwing's quarter-hour check-ins, she wasn't going to hear from any of the field team members for some time. Batman had to concentrate on driving at high speed, as did Robin on his own patrol route towards Ace Chemicals. And her father was going to be busy all night, between making contacts and co-ordinating the clean-up of whatever was to follow.

All she could do was watch the various cameras of the city she had access to, and what drone feeds hadn't been shot down. And on top of all that, the various live news feeds throughout Gotham for anything that surveillance somehow missed.

She had become so used to Tiffany working alongside her on nights like that. Talk had even started of bringing Luke into the fold as well, if at least to cover for Tiffany while she ventured out as Batgirl, when that was still an upcoming prospect.

Everything had changed so quickly. Her entire world flipped around. The virtue of being arguably just an observer to it was sometimes easy to forget. Sometimes, she actually forgot it was a wheelchair she was sitting in. It had become so ordinary and routine a part of her everyday life. Far from a limiting factor, it was liberating compared to what she might have been left with.

"Note to self. Find more help. In addition to that, find a way to pay them, so you don't end up becoming some kinda exploitative 'unpaid internship'-"

Through the glass and walls of the clocktower, she heard a faint rumble in the distance. Shortly after, a vibration through the floor.

Within seconds, many of the surveillance cameras switched to the north-western bridge, cars piling into each other as fire burst across the road and metal.

A second rumble and accompanying vibration. The Watchtower computer switched over to a seismic display at that point, marking the first bridge, and now the northern bridge as well.

She barely had time to process it before a third incident came from the other direction, the south-western bridge.

"Oh god…"

After a few more seconds of mental processing, she launched into the fray. Crisis management was a skill she had worked hard to hone, and now it was needed more than ever.

"Oracle to Bat-Team! There's just been three near-simultaneous explosions at all of the mainland bridges! I don't know if they're completely out or not! There's a lot of civilians getting trapped in the build-up!"

Shortly after, gunfire began to blare out from each of the three perspectives at slightly different times. Gunmen were clambering into view across the crashed cars, firing into the air for the most part. Looking to create terror rather than a bloodbath, though there was no telling how long that would last.

She switched the outgoing line to the GCPD. Even with their numbers divided for the raid, an effort would have to be made to curtail the violence.

"Oracle to Detective Bullock! Please tell me you're still at the main precinct!"

In the short wait for an answer, Nightwing's signal kicked up.

"Oracle, have you got eyes on Tri-Gate Bridge? Just saw the fireball across the water! I'm hearing a lot of gunfire!"

"Dick, be careful! They haven't shot at anyone yet, but that might change if they see-"

"Yeah, yeah, I got it! Full assault tactics! I'll do what I can! Any ETA on backup?"

"I'm working on it!"

Her input rate became frantic as alerts from across the city began to pile through. On top of that, she had to co-ordinate which audio feeds she brought up. Accidentally letting slip another name like that to the wrong person at an inopportune moment could cost everyone greatly.

"Bullock here, what the hell's going on Oracle?"

"Detective, I know Gordon put you in charge, so I need you to listen carefully. The three main bridges connecting Gotham to Blüdhaven, Burnside and Bristol have all been attacked. Nightwing is on his way to Arkham Island, but he's going to need help just like the other two. There's been bombings at each, and all of them have active gunfire going on."

"Jesus…" Bullock's feed went quiet for a bit, save for the distant sound of him barking out orders to anyone still in the bullpen. "We're already runnin' short on this raid! No tellin' what'll happen if I send everyone out on top'a pullin' the city patrol too!"

"Do what you have to. It's no coincidence this is happening right now, Detective. It has to be Haimes trying to distract from the raid. If he gets away, he takes Harley and those blood samples. We can't let that happen!"

"And what about Batman? Thought he was gonna pull her and the blood out! If I gotta postpone the raid to-"

"He's on the way to Ace Chemicals, I'm trying to reach him! By now you have to know he's not prepared to take down an entire factory of veterans alone! He needs the ground support!"

"Fine, fine. Just try gettin' onto the other precincts, see what they can do from the mainland sides. Just don't ghost on us to focus on the groupies, 'kay?"

"I'll do my best. Give me five minutes to link up everyone. And don't get yourself shot out there, Detective, please. Gordon thinks a lot of you."

"Yeah, well… feelin's mutual, Oracle. Try and look out for Montoya too, while you're at it."

Even after she muted the GCPD feed, there was no response from Batman, or Robin for that matter. A quick GPS lock showed that the former was stopped outside a park in the general vicinity of Ace Chemicals. The latter was still speeding through the city on his own route towards the meet-up point.

"Better not be listening to music right now, Tim…" She forced a connection through to his earpiece, taking a moment to ready herself for delivering a verbal lashing that wouldn't also cause him to crash.

"Pull over right now and listen to what I have to say, Robin!"

Through the feedback, she could hear the screech of rubber, and Tim yelping as he came to a sudden stop.

"Ah! Yeesh! What's the problem, Oracle? Not enough coffee?"

"Five minutes ago I sent out an alert to all of you! Didn't you hear or feel the aftershock of the explosions?"

"No? What explosions?"

"Someone attacked all the bridges! I need you to circle back the way you came and check Memorial! Nightwing's headed towards Tri-Gate! Bullock is going to try and pull anyone he can as backup! There's a lot of gunfire on the ground!"

"Okay! Uh, assault tactics, right? Observe, pick off isolated gunmen, shut down hostage takers, don't get killed."

"At least you remember training. Maybe try remembering how to pay attention too, hm?"

When Robin's feed went quiet, she winced sharply and reached for her head. The immediate stress of the situation was getting to her, bringing out an edge that none of them needed to be on the receiving end of.

"Just don't get killed out there. Please. We know who's behind it, just focus on damage control, and staying safe."

"Same to you, Oracle. Just hope Ivy understands if Batman has to postpone the rescue. Or call it off."

"Yeah, so do I."


The first vibration to reach the Batmobile drew Batman's attention immediately. By the second, he was already searching ahead for a gap in the traffic. At the third, he was making a hasty turn off the main road to a park-aligned street, coming to a stop between it and a clothing store with a harsh skid of rubber.

Oracle's warning coming through the on-board computer confirmed the worst for him.

He had to make a decision in that moment. A harsh, bitter one. There was going to be an argument, regardless of what he did. He had to control when it happened, where it happened, how it ended.

Without a word, he opened his door and got out.

Also having said nothing since the first vibration, Ivy watched and listened, stunned by what was unfolding, then baffled by his abrupt departure. Parking up was one thing, but leaving the vehicle had her frightened.

She ended up doing the same. Anything that would make him leave the safety of the Batmobile was too important to ignore. The light drizzle outside was nothing compared to being trapped inside a high speed vehicle outside her control.

As soon as she was out in the biting night air, the door slammed behind her and locked itself. Out of reflex, she went to try and pull it back open. Fearful that someone had hacked into the Batmobile itself. When she looked over the roof, and saw the narrow glare of Batman's eyes, the truth clicked over.

"I can't ignore those people, Ivy. You have to understand that by now."

Her fists tightened. After the absolutely turbulent week she had been put through, then the hellstorm of a day, filled with promises and assurances. Feelings she hadn't experienced since waking from the coma were welling to the surface again. Betrayal came and went, both the receiving end, and the notion to behave as such.

She came back around to sheer anguish, and fear for Harley's fate.

"Drop me there! I'll go it alone if I have to!"

"Ivy, you won't get near the place before they gun you down!" I can't-!"

A fiery feeling was coursing through Ivy as she circled around, standing before Batman with every bit of unrelenting determination she could bring to bear. If the grass and the nearby trees were still listening to her, they would have reacted to the will she was putting out in droves.

"I've tried! I've tried to be better! I kept on trying even after the Green abandoned me! All I've asked in return is to keep Harley safe, so she doesn't fall again! I can't lose her again, Batman! Don't put me through that, not again!"

Batman broke eye contact, looking upward to the sky. Sure enough, the signal lit up against the clouds. For Bullock to give approval for its use, it had to be a situation well and truly beyond what the remaining GCPD could handle alone.

When he looked back to Ivy, it was with a great deal of anguish of his own. Concealed behind the glowing white eyes, and the hardened solidarity on his mouth and chin.

"I have to make this choice every night, Ivy. I have to prioritize who I save. You can't ask me to choose her over all of the innocents on those bridges."

It struck to Ivy's core like an icy spear.

Even then, Batman already knew what she was thinking. What he had to say. "This isn't about who Harley is to either of us. Or what she's done in the past. One individual, being held hostage against a raid by police officers. Or hundreds of people, including families and children, being threatened with explosives and live gunfire. We both know the choice that Poison Ivy would make. We both know the choice I have to make as Batman. What are you going to choose?"

With the light rainfall beginning to soak through her hair, biting at her scalp and stinging at the scars with pinpricks of reality, Ivy hesitated. Then, with great reluctance, took a step back from Batman, reaching up to wipe at the warm tears, mixing them with the chill digging at her cheeks.

After a sage nod, Batman took a step back as well, preparing to re-enter the Batmobile. "Alfred, have an armoured car sent to my position. The driver is to pick Ivy up, and bring her to the GCPD forward operations outside Ace Chemicals, once they've deployed. Tell Oracle I'll reroute to whichever hotzone I'm needed."

"She's already co-ordinated Nightwing and Robin to the Memorial and Tri-Gate Bridges, and is seeking help from other police departments at this moment. Are you sure Miss Ivy will be safe on her own until the car arrives?"

"She understands, Alfred." Batman got into the vehicle and closed the door, casting a deep look of reluctance to Ivy outside, then turning away. "I hope she forgives us all for it."

Outside, Ivy went back to withdrawn silence. Barely holding back the heartbreak she was going through. Only able to watch as Batman turned his head away from her, then sped off into the night moments later.

She wasn't beaten and bruised, surrounded by fire, left with nothing but a stray gun on the ground to defend herself with. And yet, she still felt more helpless than she had been on Valentine's Day.

No chlorokinesis. No crossbow. No gadgets, martial skills, or immediate contacts that would be willing to brave a private army to save a criminal on her behalf.

All she had were wits, useless degrees, and a severe lacking of guile. She was going to be taken to the action eventually, but she had no say or influence in how it all went down.


The one who consumes toxins.

In the basement area of the main GCPD precinct, Montoya was directing the other officers to their personal lockers, the armoury, or the garage. Moving all the pieces into position for a swift deployment. Unaware that Bullock was hurrying down at that very moment, about to warn her of the situation brewing on Gotham's outer limits.

The one who bathed in toxins.

In her room of nightmares, Harley was quaking in exhaustion. She could hear Haimes elsewhere in the building. Cackling, loudly proclaiming that Black Mask's diversion had worked, and that they would surely hold against whatever would come their way.

It cut at her failing psyche like the cuffs had cut at her wrists. Being hauled up in front of the cops with a gun to the base of her skull. A bargaining chip for his escape. It brought a sense of revulsion the likes of which she had never experienced before.

The one who bleeds toxins. The one whose touch has stung all in her path. Whose nectar has killed many in the past. The one who is now alone.

Pacing on the spot, Ivy felt the threads slipping away, the ones holding her down from screaming until her throat grew raw.

Paranoia was ruling on high. All the ways in which Harley would be killed that night racing through her mind. Her fault. Her negligence. Her arrogance.

From the first day they met, she had systematically ruined her life. Directly or not. And now the chance to try and clear even a sliver of the blood on her slate was being taken away.

In the last fragments, right before she grasped at her hair and completely lost it, she looked to the store across the street, then the park opposite it.

One thought came to mind. One slim, miniscule possibility. One way to save Harley, and end it all before she completely lost her mind.

It was abhorrent, and unspeakable, and could possibly get herself killed if she misjudged.

It was a plan.


And so our destiny entwines. One thread unto another unto another. Paths diverge, choices solidify. The multiverse whispers, and we answer. There are many ways forward, but only one will be witnessed on this occasion.

The first flagstone on the path towards a new Crisis has been laid. Witness these choices. Witness the beginning of an end, unseen Observers. Witness as you will.